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:



& 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

Chimp-edited Surf Movie. Final Cut Pro Mastered By A Primate.

Final Cut Pro is so easy, even a chimp can use it. Case in point: This 'surfing' video was actually edited by JT the Chimp, who lives in a private sanctuary located on the outskirts of Modesto, CA. JT the chimp was given the controls of a Final Cut Pro edit system, and quickly mastered the editing process. He obviously favors quick cuts and ambient sounds.



Thanks to seabear video for the info and youtube video.

Wood Jungle Wall Clocks By Nir Meiri. Walrus, Giraffe, Bear & Deer.

A series of four wooden wall clocks designed by industrial designer Nir Meiri. Each is shaped like the head of a different animal. $89 USD each.

Deer:

H 60 W 48 D 4.5 cm.

Bear:

H 39 W 28 D 4.5 cm.

Walrus:

H 36 W 26 D 4.5 cm.

Giraffe:

H 45 W 38 D 4.5 cm.

Buy them here

Frédérique Morrel Gives New Life To Old Tapestries And Needlepoint In Her Sculptures.

Vintage tapestries become 'skin' for people, animals, trophy heads and even homewares in the laboriously beautiful work of Frédérique Morrel. A self-proclaimed latex, leather and fur lover, she has given old tapestries new life as integral parts of her sculptures.

Tapestries of all styles; erotic, kitschy and traditional, blend harmoniously and conceptually to add texture and narrative to the artist's free standing and wall mounted sculptures of deer, horses, unicorns, foxes, rabbits, dogs and the human figure.



above: Rembrandt, Bambi and Ma Biche from her Visitors and Passe-Murailles series.

She has three series of these sculptures. The Visitors consist of life sized animals covered in vintage tapestry and needlpoint and accented with real antlers, horns and hooves. Her Passe-Murailles are wall mounted trophy heads and G.Host are life sized human figures.

She starts with fiberglass molds injected with expanding foam, reinforces them with steel rods and hand applies the vintage "found" tapestries to the forms. The results are unusual and compelling pieces of art.

G.Host series

Eva, profile:

Eva, front:

Tony (front and back) and Eva:

Tony:

Tony, detail:


Three views of Diana:


Diana, detail:

Diana, back detail:

Legs:


All the pieces are made by hand in France by Frédérique, whose husband Aaron serves as the brand's artistic director.


above: artist Frederique Morrel and Damien

Frederique, husband Aaron Levin and their three boys:

Their adorable Jack Rusells, Maggie and Godard:

All photos by Philippe Cluzeau

Be sure to see Frederique Morrel's Visitors and Passe-Murailles series here.