How to model small details above curved surfaces? I'm trying to figure out how to model small and weir details above a curved surface like a shoe's sole. Here a couple examples:

In this case the detail on the sole also fades. Is this modeled or sculpted with a brush?



Here the details are all around to the curved surface and they starts from the lower part of the sole and continues on the side and they looks all at the same distance between them, how could it be made?




Thanks a lot in advance!
If what you want to do allows it (several kinds of shoes in the question, but maybe this is ok for second and third pictures), you can obtain this very simply:

The model is a simple cube opened at its base, with a vertex group that is one for the bottom vertices and 0 for the top.

Modifiers:

Subdivision that will propagate smoothly the vertex group values and gives geometry for the shrinkwrap below
Shrinkwrap to project on the surface, using the vertex group
Bevel... to bevel and smooth the base


This is not a pure modeling, surely... but its quick and often invisible for small details.