October 1996

Between friends

STYLE IN THE MAKING

Mother Nature has come up with the perfect image for painted borders and trims-- freshly fallen leaves. Scatter their crisp images across towels, fabrics, rugs, and walls by brushing leaves with paint and pressing them onto your surface. The technique is so easy-- done with fresh or glycerined leaves that are mounted on foam-core board-- it's bound to bring out the budding artist in everyone.

Quick Tricks with Fabric

Top off your windows with sculptural cornices made from precut sections of lightweight foam. Deep channels lock in the fabric and curtain rods hold it all in place, making a no-sew project that's oh-so-easy to do. Here are some designs to inspire you.

A Study in Contrasts

It's 1:10 p.m. The girls in Mrs. Zobel's class pick up their notebooks and file out quietly. A few minutes later a mass of boys charges in. The fourth grade at Westridge Elementary in West Des Moines, Iowa, is trying single-gender education for one class period a day. Mrs. Zobel teaches math to all the boys. Down the hall, Mrs. Vukovich has the girls.

Smart Wood

FULL DISCLOSURE

Wash Day Revolution

Better Homes and Gardens ONLINE

Where Hobbies Happen

Hobby is such an inadequate word. It conjures images of children building models or adults collecting stamps. But hobbies are so much more. They are consuming interests that can no longer be confined to the basement or the kitchen table. Passion needs more room than that.

And the Winners Are...

Pretty Leaf Pillow

With rich hues and a soft mix of textures reminiscent of the forest floor itself, this do-it-yourself pillow adds a handsome, handmade touch to any room. To put a pillow with this much personality in its best light, think of it as a three-dimensional work of art, then showcase the pillow against textural wicker or an upholstered piece with no more than a subtle pattern.

Holiday Yard Ornaments

Readers count these designs for yard ornaments among their all-time favorites. Make some this year and extend holiday greetings to your entire neighborhood.

EDITOR'S CHOICE

On the Edge

Patience

SMART GARDENING

Trellis Another One

The many ways daffodils say spring

Daffodils are like the gardener's favorite pup-- they are so eager to please. They grow tall, they grow short. They bloom in sunny meadows and under towering shade trees. They look swell in formal plantings, in informal drifts, and forced indoors in pots. They need next to no care, and bloom year after year after year. And they come in countless sure-to-please variations: nodding heads and perky ones, large cups and little dainty ones, single flowers and double, sweetly scented and subtle, bold colors, pastels, bicolors... The reliable daffodil seems to do everything but fetch your slippers.

Small Changes

Self-proclaimed "junkers," Nancy and Terry Ingram have always filled their Tulsa ranch house to the brim with their treasured finds. But finally tiring of the clutter and the upkeep, they found themselves moving toward a simpler look. "With fewer accessories, we could actually see the furniture," she says. "Then, we realized we needed to update that, too." With some editing here and slipcovering there, the two were able to pare down, style up, and get the new look they longed for without starting over-- or spending a fortune.

The woods run through it

Earl and Carolyn Palmer's vintage '70s home in Portland, Oregon, began life with a split personality: warm and rustic out side, boxy and cheerless inside. It also was out of step with the Palmers' lifestyle, which revolves around lively get-togethers with their children. A savvy update set things right, yielding family-friendly living spaces and I giving a warm, woodsy feel to every room in the house.

Personal Greetings

When you want to send correspondence that's letter-perfect, let the presentation be as personal as the thoughts inscribed inside. These custom-made cards and envelopes will inspire you to paper expressions as unique as your own signature. Instructions for the photo frame and tree cards begin on page 162. To order a kit for the stamped greeting, see page 166. For more about stamped cards, turn the page.

That's Entertainment

Television is our crazy uncle. It's an imaginative, entertaining storyteller, but we never quite know what to do with it when we want some quiet time or when guests arrive. Its personality and presence seem overwhelming.

Top Wraps With Foil

Like most cooks, you probably have aluminum foil tucked away in your kitchen somewhere. Use these tips to get the most from this versatile kitchen helper:

Hone Sweet Hone

It's true: all good cooks should put a little bit of themselves into their cooking. But you don't want to take this phrase literally. If prep work in your kitchen has gone from the "nick of time" to the "time of nicks," you could be ready for a little honing of your knife safety skills.

The Skinny On Peanut Butter

No longer faced with a simple question of creamy or chunky, choosy peanut butter lovers have more choosing to do. Now, reduced-fat peanut butters offer PB fans a new way to experience that familiar stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth sensation, with less fat than the traditional spread.

Cooking with Thermometers

Q. What's one of the best ways to know when food is cooked? A. Cooking thermometers eliminate the guesswork.

Nutrition Information

With each recipe, we give important nutrition information. To use this helpful information, first check the yield or the number of servings suggested in a recipe. Then refer to the nutrition facts that are based on each serving. You'll find the calorie count of each serving and the amount (in grams) of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fiber, and protein.

Not Too Big, Not Too Small

So, you like sport/utility vehicles, but compact versions are just too small. And those giant wagons (remember the Family Truckster from National Lampoon's Family Vacation movie?) are too big. Check out Ford's new Expedition, aiming to be the Goldilocks choice in full-size sport/utilities.

Lovable Gifts To Make

Halloween Hi-Jinx!

Hey kids! Hey parents! Get great ideas from our BH&G Kids feature (page 239), and check out these spook-tacular products to help make this Halloween special for all the trick-or-treaters in your family.

Trick or Treat

Halloween means happy faces everywhere-- and some scary ones, too. Turn the page for simple-- and fun-- costume ideas.

The man next door

Elaine Cowan loves this time of year when the trees turn in their green leaves for autumn's tweedy look. She says it inspires her to get up and go-- shopping.