Fowl Footwear by Shoe Designer Kobi Levi.

Freelance footwear designer Kobi Levi turns shoes into art for the feet. My favorites of his many impressive designs are his interpretations of birds into fine leather footwear for women. The high-heeled shoes are imaginative and yet, attractive. Each piece is hand-made in his studio.

Bird Series, 2011

Toucan:



Mallard (Duck):




Swan:




Also worth noting are his 2010 domestic pet animal inspired heels, such as these Miao (Cat) and Dog shoes.

Miao, 2010:


Dog, 2010:



About the designer:


Kobi Levi (above) graduated from the Bezalel academy of art & design in Jerusalem. He is currently working on his women's shoe line in Tel-Aviv, Israel and has designed commercial footwear in Italy, China and Brazil.

"In my artistic footwear design the shoe is my canvas. The trigger to create a new piece comes when an idea, a concept and/or an image comes to mind. The combination of the image and footwear creates a new hybrid and the design/concept comes to life. The piece is a wearable sculpture." says Levi.

Kobi Levi

Walrus, Octopus & Rhino Chairs by Maximo Riero

The Animal Chair collection by Maximo Riero consists of a diverse range of species; an octopus, a whale, a rhino, a walrus, a lion and even a beetle. Each unique chair is faithful to the animal's image and yet has incorporated traditional tufted seating in its appearance. Thus far Maximo has completed three of his intended collection, the first being an Octopus, followed by a Rhinoceros and a Walrus. A Lion, a Beetle and a Whale are the next three to come.



The Octopus Chair:













The Rhino Chair:











The Walrus Chair:





















About the artist:

Máximo Riera has been a practicing artist for over thirty years. Whilst predominantly working in photography, painting and sculpture, he has also published a collection of poetry. Inspired by his travel and experiences through Europe and the Caribbean Islands, Máximo's vibrant use of colour and evocative attention to detail have been an inspiration which convey the meaning of his creations. His work also demonstrates a predominant influence from abstract expressionism and the Pop Art movements.



Even though his artistic career was relegated to a secondary role due to his professional life in the medical industry, Máximo still organized several exhibitions and events for his work, with all proceeds going to charity.



Born in Asturias, Northern Spain, Máximo has now retired to his studio in Cadiz, where he paints and sculpts each day.



www.maximoriera.com

Steph Mantis Uses Both Ends Of Mini Animals For Home Decor.

Mini plastic animal heads become whimsical wall racks and/or jewelry holders when mounted on black walnut, white oak or long leaf yellow pine planks salvaged from cabinetry shops and old warehouses. Handmade in Brooklyn, New York by designer Steph Mantis.





The Pack Rack™ jewelry hanger:
Wall-mount ready. Screws not included.
Designed: 2010
10 x 1.5 x 5/8"

$58 each. Buy them here

The Other Ends
So what did she do with the back ends of these animals? She's turned their butts into magnets!:


The plastic animal butts are mounted on rare earth magnets and are sold in sets of 7. They measure approximately 1" - 2" with 1/4" diameter.



Plastic Animal Butt magnets:
Magnet pull strength: 1.15 lbs
Package measures 4x7"
Weighs less than 4 oz.


$20 a pack, buy them here

Louis Vuitton Creatures Made Of Small Leather Goods By Billie Achilleos.

above: detail of a Chameleon, made completely of Louis Vuitton's small leather goods.

Recently, Louis Vuitton tapped Chameleon Visual and the incredibly talented propmaker/puppeteer/artist Billie "Fingers" Achilleos for a second time*. In this instance, it was to create four bespoke animals made from Small Leather Goods for their AW11 Press event, which was held in Paris this week.

The Chameleon - for colour:


The Grasshopper - for sounds of zips and press studs:




The Beaver - for functionality:



above photo only, courtesy of tumblr

& the Armadillo - for the materials strength:





Imagery Provided by Louis Vuitton Press Department, via the artist

*Earlier this year Billie Achilleos, the self-proclaimed "Maker of Things" was approached by Chameleon Visual to produce some very unique creatures for the debut windows of Louis Vuitton’s New Bond Street Maison. Each of the 20 bespoke animals was carefully constructed out of genuine Louis Vuitton bags, purses and accessories and resented in dome jars.

The windows were such a success, they did it again for the New York store.

Here's a few images of those, courtesy of the artist:

above left: the window of the Bond Street store and right, in New York.

Bond Street, frog:


Crab and Fish:

New York:

Snake and Rooster:


The talented Billie Achilleous:


Louis Vuitton