Hometown Madison - March & April 2016

Janne has fun dressing Annie for various holidays and
creating corresponding window decorations. Her years as a
middle school English teacher helped her in creating scenes that
easily convey a message. Through the years, Annie has evolved
as Janne’s interests have changed. While many of Annie’s outfits
are holiday-related, others directly relate to things happening in
Janne’s life, or causes she is passionate about. “If there’s no
holiday, Annie is definitely my alter-ego,” Janne said. When
she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, Janne became a
supporter of the American Cancer Society and has had a
“Save the Ta-Tas” window lined with bras. Her love of animals
and her research on how raising animals is detrimental to the
environment led Janne to become a vegan in 2012. “Before that,
I’d include an inflatable turkey in the window with Annie, but
last year I had a ‘Happy Vegan Thanksgiving’ window.”
Janne has had a life-long commitment to animals. “I became
affiliated with ARF and the work Pippa Jackson is doing there,
and I became actively involved in volunteering to help animals.
I helped the shelter move from Rankin County to Jackson, and
I’ve fostered many dogs over the years. I love going to the shelter
to sit with animals who may be skittish around people.”
Mail Order Annie’s outfits are as varied as the holidays and
other events throughout the year. “She has more clothes in her
closet than I do,” laughed Janne. Annie dresses beautifully on a
budget, with most of her outfits coming from secondhand stores
and Goodwill. She’s dressed Annie in overalls and a tool belt to
recognize blue collar workers on Labor Day, and as a horse
jockey with the names of horses whose lives were lost while
racing. She’s had a “School Daze” back-to-school outfit and
“Downton Annie” attire. “I really just have fun with it,” she says.
The neighborhood children especially like Annie, and look
forward to her outfit changes, which Janne says happen about
once a month. “I invited the neighborhood kids to dress Annie
once, with the instruction that they could not spend any money.
They got really creative, using pieces from Annie’s wardrobe.”
So many people have become Annie fans that Janne has
started a Pinterest board where she shares some of her favorites.
You can find it at The Many Faces of Mail Order Annie on
pinterest.com.
52 • March/April 2016