Tattoos often act as time stamps on our lives. Instead of journaling or documenting grief, growth, and milestones, we let ink tell the story. From breakups and loss to sobriety, identity shifts, and survival moments, tattoos become proof that we didn’t just watch the year pass — we lived it.

Meet Kim Lague — The Loyal Sparrow tattoo artist in Belgrade, Montana; storyteller, and unapologetically herself. She’s the kind of person who can make you laugh mid-tattoo, drop a line that makes you think, and still send you out the door feeling more grounded than when you walked in.

November hits different. The noise fades, the air gets heavy, and what’s left is stillness — the kind that makes you look back at what broke you, built you, and what’s still standing. Gratitude this month isn’t polished; it’s raw, messy, and real. It’s about taking stock of the year, scars and all. And for many, that reflection doesn’t come through words — it comes through ink.

It’s spooky season at The Loyal Sparrow, and while we love a good Montana ghost story, some myths are scarier than any haunted house—especially when it comes to piercings. Let’s set the record straight. Whether it’s your first piercing or your next one, here’s what’s fact vs. fiction.

There’s a particular kind of artist who feels like they were born for this—someone whose creativity runs deep, whose work carries meaning, and whose energy makes everyone around them feel at ease. That’s exactly who you’ll find in Keeley Wylie, the newest tattoo artist to join The Loyal Sparrow family here in Montana.

Bozeman’s Tattoo Scene Spotlight: The Loyal Sparrow's Shay Smith’s Artistry and Unmatched Technique.