Threads of Time, a new nonfiction book created through a collaboration between Kraig Moreland and Leslie Stirling Basedow, tells the remarkable story of the entrepreneurial women who founded and sustained The Lake Forest Shop, a beloved local institution whose history stretches back to the turn of the twentieth century.
Drawing on family archives, photographs, personal stories and historical research, Moreland and Basedow worked together to uncover and preserve the story of the women behind The Lake Forest Shop and the generations who carried their vision forward. The resulting book weaves together family history, fashion, entrepreneurship and the story of Lake Forest itself.
The project began with an extraordinary collection of family materials preserved by Basedow, the great-granddaughter of The Lake Forest Shop's founder. Recognizing the significance of the photographs, stories and documents, Basedow collaborated with Moreland, a Lake Bluff resident, local historian, author and owner of NVA (New Vision Athletics) to transform the family archive into a book that could be shared with the wider community.
"This project immediately resonated with me," Moreland said. "When Leslie shared her family's collection of stories and photographs, I knew this history deserved a wider audience. I'm drawn to stories rooted in the streets and buildings we still walk through today. As a small business owner myself, I also understand how difficult it is for a business to endure. For The Lake Forest Shop to thrive across three generations is remarkable, and Leslie and I wanted to honor the women, family and community that made that possible."
To celebrate the debut of Threads of Time, a special fashion show and evening celebration was held Thursday, October 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event celebrated both the book and the enduring connection between fashion, entrepreneurship and community that lies at the heart of The Lake Forest Shop story.
All proceeds from book sales and ticket purchases for the October 1 fashion show will benefit Lake Forest Open Lands Association's conservation mission and environmental programming in the community.
Threads of Time is available exclusively through Lake Forest Bookstore and online through Lake Forest Open Lands Association at LFOLA.org.
About Lake Forest Open Lands Association
Established in 1967, Lake Forest Open Lands Association, the first accredited land trust in Illinois, stewards more than 1,100 acres of protected open lands and conservation easements across the region. Its mission is to steward ecologically healthy open lands in perpetuity, preserving them as accessible places for all, and to inspire and engage people and partners to explore, understand, protect, and celebrate the natural world. For more information about Lake Forest Open Lands, please visit LFOLA.org.
About Lake Forest Bank & Trust N.A.
As part of the larger Wintrust Community Bank family, Lake Forest Bank & Trust was built in this area, for this area. Lake Forest Bank & Trust works hard to be an asset to the people and communities they serve: to get to know you and your needs in order to offer the best banking products and even better service. As a Wintrust Community Bank, they're proud to invest in and give back to our local area.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Lake Forest Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.