You may remember from one of my previous posts me raving about the products from Imperial Stock Ranch.  Well they are here!  I’m even more excited about them than I was at TNNA.  The kits from left to right: A kit that makes the fantastic bangle bracelets, an unbelievable hat that laces up the back with ribbon, and this super cool honeycomb scarf. They are so fabulous and each kit comes with it’s own little cow bell of sorts.  As you can imagine, Mazie loved hers!  I find the behind the scenes of where our products come from to be fascinating and especially with those from Imperial Stock Ranch.  Below is an interview with Jeanne Carver who is the owner of the ranch.  Fascinating and I really want to go visit now.

I was so excited to find your products at TNNA. I made a b-line for your booth to buy some and was even more excited to learn the story of the ranch.  Can you give readers a bit of history on Imperial Stock Ranch and why it’s so special?

It was 1871, and Richard Hinton dreamed of being a stockman.  He headed into the interior of  Oregon….high desert country, and filed a homestead claim on 160 acres.  With a vision and a lot of hard work, over the next 30 to 40 years, he persevered and built his Imperial Stock Ranch into the largest land and stock empire in Oregon, and one of the largest sheep ranches in America.   Today, the ranch headquarters is a National Historic District,with most of the early buildings still in use.  The Imperial Stock Ranch has nearly 140 years of continuous operation on the same landscape and utilizing many of the same facilities, producing sheep, cattle, grains and hay.  The ranch is family owned and operated.

One more interesting piece of history specific to the sheep……young Richard Hinton was visionary.  He conducted early experiments crossbreeding wool breeds with meat breeds of sheep, to produce an animal that would have great meat characteristics, and a superior fiber in the same animal. They are a true American breed, and considered the most useful sheep in the world.

Can you talk a little bit about the yarn and their manufacture?

Our primary yarns are woolen spun, to our custom request at a family owned and operated mill which utilizes an 1869 spinning mule. Mule spun yarns are the commercial equivalent to handspun. Because of the “draw and release,” they have a character that the more commercial frame spun yarns do not have.  The wool is processed without chemicals or extreme heat; it is not carbonized as most wool that is processed commercially.  We have been testing our micron for a number of years now, and selecting for that characteristic in replacing breeding stock.  We have a good quality 22 micron fiber that is well suited to outerwear. And….we have a wool that felts well for felted projects. We also have great pattern support and kits, as you know, to support our yarns.

How did you guys team up with Leigh Radford? The combination of your yarns with her designs is simply magic.

We are very committed to working within our region.  Since the beginning, we have only used Oregon designers…and in the beginning, only those from the central Oregon desert. The patterns/designs play a very important role in helping people new to our yarn, choose a project.  We had been interested in finding someone to work with us more consistently, and in researching the work of a number of designers, the pieces designed by Leigh were “speaking to me.”  Something about the colors, silhouettes and “spirit” in Leigh’s work drew me.  So we reached out….dreaming.  We were thrilled when she agreed to do some initial work for us.  Since then…..we’ve formed a stronger relationship and are excited about the ongoing work and collaboration.

One of the things I really liked about your line was the recent addition of fibers dyed from all natural dyes from the ranch.  Can you talk a little about what kinds of natural items are used for dyeing and how this process works?

Oregon is full of creative and spirited thinkers!  We love our coffee,microbrews, wines and local food!  It was another natural step to partner with a local dyeworks that is crazy about dyeing with all natural dyes.  2 of my favorites in our new offerings:  Cowboy Coffee……yes the residue from a great coffee house (our coffee at the ranch isn’t quite that good…but stout! for sure); and Oregon Merlot….you guessed it.

Can readers experience the ranch in person?

Yes, we do tours by appointment.  If you’re looking to make a vacation out of the visit, our daughter and son-in-law have a fantastic lodge and restaurant 20 minutes away on the Deschutes River…designated a national scenic river.  A fantastic fishery, the Deschutes is a destination for fly fishermen from all over the world. The lodge (Imperial River Company) has theme decorated rooms (Cattle Baron, Homestead Room, Railroad Room….) and the restaurant features beef and lamb from the Imperial Stock Ranch.  With a beautiful lobby with fireplace, outdoor firepit, outrageous patio, bar, conference room…no phones or TV in the rooms….it is truly a little paradise in the desert. That’s the best place to stay when coming to visit the ranch.  They also do guided whitewater rafting on the river.  The total package of the Imperial Stock Ranch and Imperial River Company is a fabulous experience for people with all interests.

What might we expect next from the Ranch?

Well….besides becoming part of the family, there will be more great new Leigh Radford designs coming in January.  At least one will be from the Tracie yarn…which is a terrific yarn, and not just suited for socks!  The yarn community may not know this, but the Imperial Stock Ranch has collaborated with regional textile artists in the design and production of fabrics and apparel for the past 8 years or so as well.  We have just completed 4 years selling through a national clothing retailer.  However, we have partnered in the past 8 months with a fabulous young fashion designer from Oregon (she was with us at TNNA in June!) who is not only talented but committed to leading a truly sustainable effort in the apparel industry.  We will launch the first/*Imperial Collection */as a headliner at Portland Fashion Week in October.  This line is being designed by Anna Cohen.  This will be great exposure for the yarn, as well as the apparel line. Anna serves as the Creative Director for the yarn line as well.

QUICK FACTS:
Favorite tunes at the ranch:
Anything by Ian Tyson!

Best ranch landscape color inspiration:
The new growth on the sage in spring……Spring Sage

Dog or horse’s name:
How do I choose????!!!! Katie…my shadow and number one helper.  Apache…my warhorse….no battle’s too tough.

Favorite book:
My husband’s:   Farmer’s Almanac

We hope to have these up online soon, but if you have to have one beforehand, just call the store to place an order.  They are beautiful!