SAVE the UNIVERSITY OF OREGON WRESTLING PROGRAM...click here

As much as I like to show off my wears something of a much greater importance is at hand. The University of Oregon is cutting the Wrestling program. the implication of one mans decision are monumental.
You see, If the Oregon program gets cut there won't be enough teams to be competitive in the Pac 10, which means the NCAA would step in and pull wrestling from the pac 10 schools alltogether which in turn effects wrestling from the kid level through the high school levels on the entire West coast.
so if by chance you stumble across this blog and read this please go to: saveoregonwrestling.com educate yourself and sign the petition. Thank you so much Mark P Tollen

Mountain Sculptures

Here are threea couple of mountain sculptures that I made for Saturday market, I will be in the shop again before Friday because the second mountain sculpture has all ready been sold. I need some smaller pieces for the market ...it makes it easier to set up and take down.

Unfortunately I'm not sure that many people will be out due to the hot weather. Enjoy the pictures, contact me if you are interested in possably commissioning a peice.........thanks!

STAY COOL!!!

Grandpa's place

This one I added some foothills to it, I call it "Grandpa's place" for my own reasons - grampa knows why.....enough said. enjoy!

Western Regionals

We just returned from Klamath Falls on Saturday after noon from a week at the western regional wrestling tournament, The boys did great!! Derick took 3rd place in Greco and 5th place in freestyle, Dakota took 6th place in freestyle, didn't place in greco. Derick finished off the season with 79 wins and 19 losses and goes his 4th consecutive season not loosing by a pin - yes I'm saying this little tiger with a career record of 206 and 69 has never lost by fall.

Dakota having his best finish yet retires the season (except for Fargo) with a record of 30 wins and 45 losses...a career record of 112 and 128. enjoy the pictures

Art peices for Western Regionals

Here are some pieces that I made for Dakota to raffle at Western Regionals, the image of the kid getting his hand raised is made from the picture at the very bottom of the page, of Derick winning his first state championship. We are leaving on Monday mid morning and will be there all week, wish us luck ! enjoy the wrestling pieces MT

***Update*** Thank You !!! to all that purchased raffle tickets at the Western Regional Wrestling tournament in Klamath Falls to support Dakota going to the national wrestling tournament in Fargo ND. Dakota raffled off 4 wrestling sculptures that I made. Drawing the winners on Friday the 23rd after the second round of wrestling following is a list of the winners. All winners have been contacted and have allready recieved their prize or their prize will be mailed out on 6/26/07 in the am. CONGRADULATIONS !!

Kevin Harvey, Keno OR - Large chinook salmon

Melisa Lee, Salem OR - Large USA wall hanging

Cody Jackson, Scapoose OR - Small USA wall hanging

Rick Coster, Oakley CA - Small USA wall hanging

Patti Short, Reedsport OR - USA Stand

"A Better Place"

Here is a Mountain sculpture that I made for Linda Prefontain as a donation for a silent auction for Multiple Sclerosis. I will link the preview website as soon as I have it. I added some trees to the back ground and this really works for me. I have an idea on a different style of branches on the trees that I will try on the next mountain scene. This piece is much like the one That I did for Matt Whitmyer he gave it to his father as a wedding gift.

***Update*** Linda called me this morning to let me know that the "A Better Place" went for $450 in the silent auction. Congratulations! Linda on a very worthwhile Charity event.

fierce swimmer

Here is a new style of Chinook Salmon that seems to be a favorite, the larger one is aprox 15" long the smaller one is a desk size (about 8" long on a stand).

Fund Raiser for Dakota and Derick with the Oregon National Wrestling Team

Here are the two raffle prizes that the boys are selling tickets for, the first one is a mountain scene with two trees up front, the next one is a Chinook salmon jumping.

The monies raised will help pay for Dakota's trip to the USA National Wrestling Tournament in Fargo North Dakota, and Dericks trip to the AAU Grand Nationals in Butte Montanna, as well as both boys will wrestle in the up coming USA Western Regional tournament in June. We will post the Drawing winner here on this blog in August.

We would like to thank all of the people of our community that support the great sport of wrestling and more important support our youth.

These kids have endured hours and hours of practices and sacrifice to to meet the challenge within themselves as well as the opponent in front of them. To be as good as a person as they can be, to represent our great state of Oregon as a Oregon National Team Member I assure you that you are being represented by two boys that understand integrity, honesty and sportsmanship.

***UPDATE*** The raffle tickets were drawn on 6/23/07 at the western Regional wrestling tournament CONGRATULATIONS!!! to our local winners who donated so generously. THANK YOU!!! .......The Winners Are as follows: Debrah Eggers, Elmira OR - Demarl cook ware............. Wilber Quiring, Elmira OR - Large fish............. Karen Conger, Springfield OR - "Iron Mountain"

My damascus knife collection

Here are a couple of shots of the knives that have been chosen to be displayed in the "Edge -n-Knife" a knife shop here in Eugene. Although they are on display for sale in the shop you may still purchase them via the web page.
I made a knife this weekend that I have always wanted to make but was always to stingy with my Damascus, I used the last piece of billet I had left to make a fully Damascus fighter. I hardened the entire knife which effected the pattern ...It doesn't show up like my other blades, It turned out really cool... check it out

....At the bottom of the page is our certificate of authenticity, it will help explain about damascus and why our knives and our artwork is special and one of a kind.

Derick wins the Oregon state Freestyle Championship

Derick Tollen 55lb midget, Oregon state Freestyle Champion. Underestimating his opponent in the state finals Greco Roman match cost him the state title...a mistake that he would not make going into the state freestyle tournament. The first round wrestled late on Saturday he would go into the tourney Sunday morning focused on only the match in front of him. After three rounds he sat second in the standings, one good point behind the leader having tougher draws means precious energy expended ...possibly weaker for the semi and final rounds. Oh no these kids came to do battle Derick wins the first round 8-2 Morgan Holcome from Pendleton takes the second round 11-8 Derick takes the third round 6-4 shakes hands with the officials and tosses his head gear on the mat at coach Kerneys feet and keeps on running right on out the doors of the gym. I Love my boys....... i'll get pictures up soon, having difficulties with my video software. the kids web page links the www.theowf.com/index.html or you can copy and paste this...go take a look at wrestling in Oregon you will see pictures of both Dakota and Derick in the photo archives. MT

New salmon peices

I just finished these two wall hanging peices they turned out awesome, about 18" across and 8" -10" high. We have some friends, Steve and Kerry Warner that own a couple of galleries over on the coast and Steves brother is going to come over and take a look to see if they may want to display some of my art work in their galleries (lets all keep our fingers crossed) any way take a look and grab that credit card then click on my pay pal.....if not... ENJOY!! the pictures MT

Dakota Wrestles at the state Freestyle, Greco Roman tournament

Dakota wrestled in the Oregon state Cadet Freestyle, Greco Roman tournament this weekend he did awesome ! what a tough weight group that 130lb class was stacked, at high school state a month ago he wrestled 119lb he is growing like crazy. He had tough matches all through the tournament. Ending up 4th in free and 4th in greco just out of the medals but finishing well enough to make the Oregon National team. Great job Dakota, all of the hard work is paying off. I know it is tough to stay on track and focused these days but I know you will be a fine man, You do not hesitate to take the road less traveled. you can be proud of yourself ! God knows I am proud of you.

"Iron Mountain" Has SOLD

I finished this last week. I needed to do something different my trees just were kind of wrong...they looked good just needed something. The scraps on my floor gave me an idea that if i just took random peices and tried to fit them into the right place it may work and did it ever these trees look great!
I also am trying some different things with the snow breaks on the mountians. it adds some life into the peice.
I tried putting a lake into one last night and wow ....bad idea! I have it in my head...if i can just get it out it will be neat. This peice is about 32" tall and the bows of the tree are grean splatter paint. This peice is called "Iron Mountain" and is for sale I am asking $400 add $15 for the shipping. enjoy! SOLD

The Tollen Bowie

This is the bowie that I built from a 30" circle saw blade. it now belongs to my good friend Jeff Creek. I hardened it and drew it back several times before I was satisfied with the blade. this son of a bitch is sharp & it holds an edge. A fine blade for a fine person. Enjoy!

Damascus Celtic Dagger

A fellow at the saturday market asked me if I had ever made a dagger. At that time I had not, I started this dagger on a nice saturday and I dont think I came out of the shop but a couple of times... I was so into it. Finished this is my favorite theme knife. I'm not sure I could sell it.........I threw in some more pictures of some other knives that I have built...ENJOY !!!

Jewlery of Damascus

I made some jewelry for my wife...A fellow bought it off her wrist at the Saturday Market here in Eugene where we have a booth when time permits.

"Up River" has been SOLD

Here is a piece with three Chinook swimming "Up River" Two bucks and a hen, beautifuly colored and just the right size to be the center piece on the table or to sit on the book shelf and not be overbearing. this is one of my very favorite pieces (Derick let me have his piece of drift wood for it)... enjoy!

"Outdoor" Interior Sculptures by Tollen

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As promised here are a few pieces of my latest "outdoor" interior metal sculptures, I make them truly 3-D this is what sets my work apart from others. These are made from true band mill blades from an 8foot band mill out of a big log saw mill in western Oregon. the blade is what is called a double cut and is actually about 42 feet long if it were stretched out. the picture quality isnt great because I couldnt get the colors captured...trust me they are beautiful pieces. Enjoy!!

A few of my hand made damascus knives

I have recently completed some pieces that may interest those of you who love the out of doors...I will post them soon, so for now view some of the knives that I have made. the knives with the pattern on the blade are hand forged Damascus see my certificate of authenticity for more details feel free to email me.........and yes of course they are for sale thanx MT