Nov 22, 2002 By Cindy Ekas-Brown 4 min read

The event, which attracts hundreds of visitors each year, will showcase the work of 13 Fayette and Washington County artists. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-7, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at Campbell’s 2,500-square-foot home. Hand-carved wooden Santas, hand-painted folk art on old wooden sleds, painted colonial floor cloths and handcrafted stuffed animals, as well as many other arts and crafts, will be displayed throughout the home’s living and dining rooms. The spacious and open rooms are separated by a focal point – a massive red brick fireplace stretching from the floor to the 14-foot-high ceiling, which features wooden beams.

Campbell explains she and her husband, Scott, decided to build the unique home in 1986 after they conducted extensive research on underground homes. The couple hired a southwestern Pennsylvania architect, who made their dream become a reality.

The home, which features unusual underground sections protected from the elements, has served as the perfect backdrop for the arts and crafts show for the past 13 years.

“The arts and crafts show attracts a lot of visitors, who keep coming back each year,” Campbell said.

“Everyone really seems to enjoy the show because they can see the beautiful work created by local artists as they watch the sheep grazing near our home. We move the sheep closer to the home during the show because it’s part of the atmosphere. People, who come to the show every year, want to see the sheep. The visitors can also enjoy the beautiful view of the mountains in the background. It’s a very peaceful setting for the show.”

Campbell, whose handcrafted hats, capes and wool jackets will be featured in the show, said the art of weaving has captured her fascination for many years.

“Life evolves,” says Campbell, as she explains how she learned to weave wool fabric. “A friend taught me how to knit when my daughter was born.”

Several years later, Campbell met a woman, who taught her how to use a spinning wheel. Her path then crossed a weaver, who taught her craft of weaving cloth on a loom.

Since it takes her as long as 15 or 20 hours to make one wool jacket, Campbell explained that she only creates about four or five each year. One of her handmade wool jackets sells for as much as $250, depending on how detailed the jacket is and how long it takes her to make it.

Campbell said she also weaves as many as 10 to 15 wool capes each year as well as numerous wool hats and scarves.

While Campbell was busy learning her how to knit and weave, her husband, Scott, and their two children became involved in 4-H activities and began raising sheep on the 13-acre site.

“We began raising the sheep because of the 4-H activities, and then everything just sort of fell into place,” she said. “I began shearing the sheep, spinning the wool and weaving the cloth to create my crafts. We also sell the lambs to packing houses so there is a dual purpose for raising the sheep.”

The couple has two children, Anne McGivern, 32, of Charlotte, N.C., and Douglas Campbell, 29, of Oakdale.

They have two grandchildren, 4-year-old Nathaniel McGivern and 2-year-old Sydney Campbell. The couple is looking forward to the birth of two more grandchildren in the near future because their daughter and daughter-in-law are both pregnant.

Scott Campbell previously operated an outdoor advertising business, but he decided to retire several years ago. After he retired, the couple began spending more time tending the sheep on the small farm.

“Our grandchildren are just fascinated by the sheep when they come to visit,” she said. “Everyone, who comes to our home, is very impressed by the sheep, the peaceful setting and the beautiful view that we have of the mountains in the distance.”