Meet Katie Tanner of Kit & Sparrow in Scottsdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Tanner.

Katie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Kit & Sparrow goat milk soap began with a desire to shield my daughters (now 3 and 5 years old) from harsh ingredients found in everyday products. Before my oldest daughter was born, I spent countless hours researching everything under the sun that I could make that was a simpler alternative. In my DIY craze, I made homemade baby wipes, granite cleaner, laundry detergent, deodorant, etc. After all, I was a graphic designer who spent most of my time in front of a computer, so it felt refreshing to craft new things with my hands instead of plugging away with a mouse and keyboard.

Then, shortly after my oldest daughter was born, my mother passed away from cancer. It happened so suddenly and completely turned my world upside down. I felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility to protect my family in any way that I could.

To distract myself from grief, I poured my heart into creating safer products for my family until I got to making handmade soap. The process was intimidating, but I was determined. After months of research and getting my hands on every piece of literature there was on making soap, I was finally ready to dive in. With curiosity and confidence, I precisely measured, mixed, and poured my first batch of cold-process goat milk soap. The process was absolutely fascinating and it caught me off guard just how fast I had to work! With no time to let my mind wander, soapmaking became my new favorite thing. Nothing was more “in the moment” and that was exactly where I needed to be.

Anyone who knows me well could tell you what happened next. When I closed my eyes, all I could see was soap! I spent the next year experimenting, perfecting, testing, and loving every second of soapmaking. Over 70 test batches of goat milk soap later (and some very clean friends and family test subjects), I finally found my perfect soap!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting my journey was probably the hardest part. There was so much to learn and it was hard not to get overwhelmed. Fortunately, as my husband can tell you, I am not someone who gives up easily.

My first batch of soap was a breeze… then, I added goat milk. There was no denying that I had a God-given “talent” for soapmaking from the beginning, but I was definitely in for a challenge. Goat milk is a skin-loving ingredient that gives the soap an incredibly luxurious and creamy lather, but the natural sugar in the milk significantly speeds up the process. However, goat milk elevates the lather experience so much that I deemed it absolutely necessary and worth all of the extra trouble!

I went on to experience every single soapmaking problem under the sun: soap batter overheating, batter heating up only in the middle of the bar and leaving a dark ring of color, batter too slow to set up, batter set up too fast for intricate designs, “soap on a stick” (batter set up so fast that I couldn’t pry my stick blender out of the bowl), scents too strong or scents disappearing, essential oils turning the soap weird colors, and the list goes on and on. Thanks to my new found love of soapmaking and strong determination, I overcame all of my hurdles.

Let’s not forget, cold process soap has a 4-6 week cure time, so after you make what you think is your “perfect batch” you then have to wait 4-6 weeks to see if you’re right.

Please tell us about Kit & Sparrow.
Kit & Sparrow is about giving people a good for you product that is fun and brings about a feeling of joy. I’m known for my unique ability to manipulate the goat milk soapmaking process into creative works of art, whether that is by creating delicate swirls of color throughout the bar, piping soap batter on top like a cake, or creating a peppermint hot cocoa soap that looks like it has marshmallows on top. Each bar is unique, and with every new design, I strive to challenge the idea that goat milk soap has to be a brownish hue with a simple and rustic texture.

Pricing:

• Handmade Artisan Goat Milk Soap $9
• Goat Milk Soap Sample Packs $12

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kitandsparrow.com/
• Email: hello@kitandsparrow.com
• Instagram: @kitandsparrowsoap
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KitandSparrowSoap/

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