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Janie Mountain Baker

I was born in Santa Monica, CA and lived in West Los Angeles until my family moved to the San Fernando Valley in 1958. At that time, Panorama City was the farthest outskirts of Los Angeles. We were even outside of Panorama City proper and surrounded by the remaining movie ranches and thoroughbred farms. My childhood was happy - filled with horses, dogs and church activities.

I now live in my childhood home with my husband Dennis, where weāve raised our son Michael and a succession of pony-sized dogs. Alas, there are no more horses even though we are still zoned for them. Despite the area being more urban than ever, we still love it here and are working with our neighbors to revitalize Panorama City and our neighborhood. Though capable of speaking English correctly, I am a true Valley Girl. I still love animals and wide open spaces, and I hate to pay for parking. Parking is a God-given right and should be free! Fer shure!

I learned to sew from my mother at an early age and made the most of my wardrobe throughout my school years and college. When the popularity of quilting began its comeback I became interested and was hooked by the late 1980s. From there I progressed to wearable art and although I never made it a profession, I won several ribbons and awards from Los Angeles, Ventura and Tulare County Fairs for quilts and wearables. In the 1990s I found a passion for making banners for churches.

I now spend most of my time designing and making Christian banners, but quilting remains in my blood. Although I design my own quilts, my quilting buddy, Jan Rush, and I have decided to join the Thimbleberries Club this year - partly for the quilting and partly for a monthly girlsā night out. Praise God! Life is good!