Simple stripes, colors and patterns are all that is visible when you are wearing shoes, but kick them off and you can show off famous figures from classic paintings. They may not be fit for formal wear situations, but are certainly fun for everyday occasions (and a great idea for sock puppet shows).

These series of silly socks from ChattyFeet is equally informal about their titling of the various pairs. Famous artists are given name twists, resulting in Andy Sock-Hole and David Sock-Knee. Other pairs include Frida Callus and Feetasso (from Frida Kahlo and Pablo Picasso).

From the designers: “The master of modern art David Sock-Knee is on hand (or foot) when you want to impress with your knowledge of home-grown British artists. They are just the thing to wear to that exhibition opening event and don’t forget to snap a ‘sockie’ photo when you visit famous galleries. Follow in this famous face’s footsteps by recreating your favourite holiday scenes in acrylic – just don’t splash any on your socks!”

ChattyFeet is a quirky brand that offers “silly sock personalities” for adults and children alike. The studio’s line of cheeky characters colorfully drawn onto comfortable cotton socks.

We’ve all wondered what our pets are thinking, but would you believe a gadget that claimed it could translate their thoughts into human language? Some gadgets for pets are fairly practical, tracking their location or the amount of exercise they get every day, while others veer into the absurd, like stair lifts for fat dogs or devices that tweet their activities.

No More Woof Translates Animal Thoughts

This goofy-looking headset called ‘No More Woof’ by Scandinavian research lab The Nordic Society for Invention and Discovery uses micro computing and EEG technology to read a pet’s brain waves and spell them out in English through the attached speaker. Specific brain wave patterns are associated with feelings like fatigue, hunger, anger and curiosity. Of course, there’s no way for the consumer to verify that the readings are accurate.

Takara Bowlingual/Meowlingual Pet Translation Device

These cute little gadgets – one for cats, one for dogs – also claim to break down the communication barrier between humans and our pets. ‘Meowlingual’ and ‘Bowlingual’ supposedly work by listening to the sounds pets make and then providing a human translation.

Monitor Your Pet’s Every Move with Whistle

Attach this little device called The Whistle to your dog’s collar and you can monitor walks, play and rest. Why would you need to do that? Well, there is a practical reason for this one: you can analyze whether your dog is getting enough exercise every day. It also acts as a tracking device if your pet is ever lost. An accompanying app gives you all the information.

Pet’s Eye View Camera

If you’ve ever wondered what the world looks like from your pet’s perspective, here’s your chance to find out. The Pet’s Eye View Camera hooks onto your pet’s collar and can store up to 40 photos. It’s got a waterproof housing, and can be set to take shots at various intervals.

GoDogGo Fetch Machine

Whether you’re just too lazy to play with your dog, or you’ve got the sort of demanding pet that you just can’t keep up with, an automated pet fetch machine might be a tempting proposition. The GoDogGo Fetch Machine is an automatic ball launcher that can throw balls up to 45 feet with 7 to 15-second intervals between launches. It retails for $119.99.

Puppy Tweets

We all know those people who think their pet (or child) is simply the most fascinating pet (or child) that ever lived, and that everyone around them wants to hear every mundane detail of their daily lives. Here’s the perfect gift for that person: Puppy Tweets, a medallion that attaches to a dog’s collar and tweets its ‘thoughts’ to the designated Twitter account of your choice. Engadget tested it out and said the tweets were “cute, and yes, humorous, but completely irrelevant to what was happening in reality.” So your pet’s Twitter account might not be too different from your own.

Woofer: Dog Vest with 30-Watt Speakers

Put your dog to work in a different way with the Woofer, which basically turns her into a walking music player. This waterproof dog vest comes with a pocket and USB connector for your iPhone, iPod or other music player, and is fitted with two speakers.

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A quick doodle drawn in the heat of the moment on a napkin at an architectural cocktail party is more likely to be a concept diagram than a phone number. There is nothing architects love more than a sexy drawing with dotted lines, curvy arrows and a few key color accents.

Josh Lewandowski is a Minnesotan architect who is taking things to the extreme, producing a new diagrammatic sketch daily … with a catch: they do not represent anything and are ends unto themselves. The series is dubbed simply Pointless Diagrams.

Of his work, Josh writes: “I started this blog because for as long as I can remember I’ve always drawn and doodled 3d sketches that have an unapologetic dearth of meaning.” He draws his “inspiration from architecture, furniture, engineering, geometry, cereal boxes, Lego instructions, and Etch A Sketch memories. I always use pen and ink because erasing is for wimps.”

The works are populated with walkways, bridges, staircases, pools, trees and more, yet a whole never really emerges from the parts except when the viewer’s imagination takes part. Thus the mysterious and subjective side of the equation.

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If there’s one toy that can transcend cultural, age and geographical barriers, it’s Lego. The timeless toy has been enjoyed by children all over the world and from all walks of life. But it’s not just a child’s toy – Lego is a full-time hobby for plenty of adults, too. These impressive works of Lego architecture were all created by people who have a healthy affection for the colorful building blocks.

Historic Moments

(images via: SF Weekly, MOC Pages)

Is there any better way to commemorate a special day than to build it in Lego? Here, two unforgettable moments in American history are recreated in plastic blocks for all to enjoy. At top, President Obama’s inaugural ceremony appeared at Legoland in Carlsbad, California. The scene featured thousands of tiny Lego people, including the president and his family, George W. Bush and his family, and a number of celebrities who were on hand to celebrate the occasion. Just below that is the touching recreation of the Miracle on the Hudson, or the day that pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger emergency-landed an airplane on the Hudson River. The large display was created by the Central Ohio Lego Train Club.

Famous Landmarks

(image via: Brick Artist)

Some landmarks are so well-loved that it just makes sense to recreate miniature models of them in Lego. These two from master Lego artist Nathan Sawaya are immediately recognizable: the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty, complete with her painstakingly-reproduced pedestal.

(images via: torgugick)

With the right pieces, a lot of patience and a fair amount of creativity, a skilled Lego builder can create just about any landmark imaginable. Here, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Arc de Triomphe and Roman Colosseum all come to life under the talented hands of one Lego master.

(images via: torgugick)

With some sculptures taking weeks or even months to finish, Lego artists have to keep their eyes on the end result: sculptures that redefine the relationship between toys and art. Certainly, no one could deny that these masterful sculptures are art, even though they are built with little plastic blocks. Above, the Great Wall of China, St. Louis Arch and St. Peter’s Basilica are rendered in delightful detail.

(images via: torgugick)

All of these sculptures, as well as the two sets above, are by Cleveland school teacher Arthur Gugick. He’s been building with Lego since the 1960s and has become something of a legend in the world of MOC (My Own Creation – a Lego term used to denote Lego sculptures not built from kits). He had to take on a part-time job to pay for his Lego addiction, but he brings endless joy to viewers at Lego conventions and his legions of Flickr followers.

Amazing Buildings

(images via: Space, Time & Reality, Guyonicholas, & Matija Grguric 1,2)

Some buildings manage to be nearly as impressive when built from Lego as they are in real life. At top are the Nakagin Capsule Tower, one of the first prefab modular modern buildings, and Shanghai’s Jin Mao Tower, which was once the tallest building in the People’s Republic of China. Just below that are two of Croatia’s most recognizable buildings: the Art Pavilion and Mestrovic Pavilion, both in Zagreb.

(images via: DecoJim)

People are often amazed at just how versatile and expressive Lego can be. Over the 70-some years that the bricks have been around, they’ve gone through few changes, but the company has made more and more variations in terms of colors, special pieces and licensed sets. These variations have allowed Lego sculptors to create some truly mind-blowing pieces of art. Of course, some of the most impressive pieces are those that depict real-life architecture. This set of Detroit buildings shows off one Lego builder’s love of the city’s unique and memorable architecture.

(images via: Holgermatthes and Marnoam82)

Of course, it’s no wonder that Lego is so often chosen to recreate the world’s greatest architecture. The blocks are, after all, the perfect shape for building and snap together so that creations are (mostly) stable. But building with Lego isn’t child’s play; to build a large structure takes a real understanding of building principles. Building without taking into account the weight and skew of the bricks will result in collapsed structures. Above, two magnificent recreations of some very recognizable buildings: the Church of Our Lady, Dresden and New York’s Flatiron Building.

(images via: Alex Fojtik)

Even the somewhat lesser-known structures of the world are honored with Lego likenesses. Here, Spain’s PS10 solar power tower is remade in whimsical style with Lego, complete with tiny “mirrors” arranged around the tower.

Re-Works of Master Architects

(images via: ie10421, holgermatthes, ToT-LUG, Matija Grguric)

Maybe if money and fame weren’t enough for them, famous architects could take Lego tributes like these as their confirmation that they’ve finally made it. The Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright, a Le Corbusier house, the fabulous Eames House, and the Villa Savoye (also by Le Corbusier) have all been lovingly recreated from everyone’s favorite building block. One can be reasonably sure that when your works start appearing at Lego conventions, you’ve made quite a name for yourself in architecture.