Bored Panda reached out to Mikaela to gain insight into her creative process and learn more about her as an artist. "I discovered needle felting eight years ago after coming across a short video showing someone making a tiny cartoon cat and decided to give it a go," the artist shared when asked how needle felting came into her life.

Mikaela developed the technique of wrapping wool around wire armatures and sculpting the fiber with a single barbed needle. "I love the possibilities of blending wool for instant color and adding fine details," she added.

Mikaela told us that she draws inspiration from wildlife, finding joy in exploring each animal's unique behavior and personality. "I try to capture movement and expression in each form, celebrating its beauty and importance in our world."

Mikaela explains how she works through the challenges of sculpting: "I always find that a sculpture will go through an ‘ugly stage’ but by trusting the process and much persistence, I hope I manage to capture the essence of each animal."

According to the artist, each piece can take between one and three weeks depending on the detail. "I find the repetition of making individual spines for a hedgehog or feathers for a bird very therapeutic."