January 1993

A TALE OF MAGAZINES, MOTHERS, AND CRADLES

The young mother-to-be in the photo with me right is our Associate Interior Design Editor, Michelle Tibodeau. The cradle is one I recently finished for her baby-to-be. I've made cradles for the first-time moms on our staff over the past few years to celebrate those truly blessed events.

our picks for 1993

Gardening is an ever-changing field-- bigger, better, and more beautiful plant varieties crop up each year. Last summer, in the Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden, we grew an exciting array of new flowers and vegetables. Here are some of the top performers that you can grow in your own garden this spring.

YOUR CHILD'S BILL OF RIGHTS

Caring parents understand that all children have certain rights-- and that honoring those rights does wonders for a youngster's development. To help ensure that your kids have a psychologically healthy upbringing, uphold their rights to:

MOTIVATING STUDENTS

Inspiring today's seen-it-all students takes imagination-- and experimentation. Here are a few examples of unconventional programs that are helping to reshape America's schools.

SNOWFLAKE QUILT

Crisp white snowflakes on a quilted pink ground beckon you to snuggle in for winter's duration. Reminiscent of Grandma's day, this 75 X 90-inch quilt from the '30s has four distinct patterns of flakes and a sawtooth border, all hand-appliquéd onto a cheery quilt top. We'll tell you how to make it just like they did in the good old days.

SHEAR DELIGHT

Tips and tools to make quilting easier

RACK IT UP

SIZE IT UP

HOT OFF THE PRESS

FINISHED SIZES

ADAPTING A PATTERN

FIVE STEPS TO BUILDING a Home of Your Own

Let creativity and gumption pick up where your tight home-building budget leaves off. Here are 5 steps that helped a California family build this stunning Southwest-style home on a shoestring.

TV Spots

As the world turned from radio to TV in the '50s, bringing home a new set took little concentration: Pick a console model, plunk it against a wall, and leave it to Beaver and other stars of the day to create entertainment tonight. Today, TV sizes and options abound. We're going live with Regis and Kathie Lee in the kitchen, thanks to small sets, and going to screen extremes with masterpiece home theaters in the family room.

Pillow talk

Say it with filling! Let squashy pillows soothe your body while colorful (even chatty) covers speak volumes about your style. If you're sew-inclined, express yourself with our Better Homes and Gardens Designs with Simplicity patterns. If not, you can buy many of the pillows shown here, or shop your favorite stores or catalogs.

Paint power

ARE YOU TIMID ABOUT CHOOSING COLORS? YOU'RE NOT ALONE. MANY PEOPLE TAKE THE SAFE ROUTE AND PAINT EVERY ROOM WHITE. BUT A BOLD COLOR SCHEME CAN BRING A LISTLESS HOME TO LIFE AND CAMOUFLAGE ARCHITECTURAL FLAWS. WHAT DO YOU NEED? JUST A LITTLE PAINT AND LOTS OF IMAGINATION. HERE ARE TWO COLORFUL EXAMPLES TO INSPIRE YOU.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

With every recipe, we give nutrition information. We list the calorie count of each serving and the amount, in grams, of fat, cholesterol, protein, carbohydrate, sodium, and fiber.

BRANSON, MO

Branson, Missouri, is as hot as a Garth Brooks tune with country-music fans. Besides the music, vacationers go for the area's theme parks, crafts, fishing, water sports, and abundance of other family-style entertainment.

Shopping editor's choice

Discover the ease and pleasure of shopping by mail. Order from the convenience of your own home with complete confidence.

THE MAN NEXT DOOR

Elaine Cowan admits that she finds comfort in those tell-all talk shows. "After all," she says, "how bad can your problems be compared to 'mothers who still choose their grown sons' clothes'?"