About the Craftsman

Dave VanAcker 

AKA- Big Dave

AKA- Uncle Van

AKA- Van Man

AKA- Stan VanSchnazzle 

Is the craftsman/artist behind the carved wood pieces.

Dave is a retired expert in turf and agronomy, golf course construction and maintenance. 

Dave spent his last 10 years working in Advertising and Medical Equipment Sales before becoming disabled in 2021.

He learned woodworking from his Dad who was an expert in almost everything.

Dave was making these Angel’s & Santa’s on a stick and giving them as gifts in the very early 1990’s, and the Clackamas River Santa Fish on a stick was created in 1994 and he sold his Christmas carvings at a few local shops and the big Country Christmas Bazaar

at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds in November for years to follow.

Dave uses Basswood to carve most of the items, Basswood is one of the favorite hardwoods for woodcarving with clear, straight, wood grain that finishes well with paint or 

stain.

Dave’s daughter Maddy (has studied sales and marketing in college), built and runs the Santafishshop.com website and the store slot on the Etsy platform.

All proceeds from Santafishshop.com go to Maddy,   She has been through and preparing for her fourth back surgery in 2 years and the money she receives will buffer her cobra overlap

We hope you enjoy the traditional and original carved and painted wooden Christmas ornaments that Dave has made!

Thanks for playing!

Dave & Maddy VanAcker