FARMINGTON -- Fishing and furniture have more in common than just sitting around a campfire in a canvas camp chair after a day of casting for brook trout on a Maine stream.

In Farmington, the two seemingly disparate interests have brought two businesses together that have found they have something powerful in common: They share a customer base.

Aardvark Outfitters, the fly-fishing, hiking, snowshoeing and Telemark skiing-equipment store, at 108 Fairbanks Road in Farmington, has opened a gallery that is now filled with handcrafted "live-edge" furniture made in Wilton from wood cut from Maine trees.

"This is a different way of going about selling our products. The people who like the outdoors and fish, hike and Telemark ski are looking for vacation-home furniture," said Native Woods' owner, Gary Krauss.

Bob Dionne, owner of Aardvark, said he has long admired Krauss' work and after pondering how best to use the second floor of his spacious store, came up with the idea of joining forces.

"We both know our clients and we realized they are the same people," Dionne said.

Before this, Dionne said he would see a husband come in to check out the latest fly fishing or hiking equipment while his wife waited in the car. Or, if she came in at all, she might "roll her eyes" while her mate kept browsing.

Now, the velvet-surfaced, cherry platform frame and the benches set up by the front door beg to be touched and beckon people to check out the gallery where there are benches, tables, mirrors, frames, bookcases and other home decor. "Everyone who comes in comments about the bed. People who are coming through town and stop in to buy hiking poles or socks, see the furniture and want to see more," Dionne said.

Live-edge boards are the bark edge of a tree. The logs with the most character and that are sought for furniture are from trees that are distressed, diseased or dying.

"We use the natural, organic shape of the tree to define the shape of the furniture. A live edge allows you to see the entire history of the tree," Krauss said.

"When you look at a slab cut piece of wood and you let it give you feedback, you get to feel the shapes and functions that can come out of it," he said. "It gives you a sense of excitement and a sense of creativity that is beyond just woodworking."

Selling one-of-a-kind, heirloom-quality furnishings and custom cabinets in this lagging economy is a challenge. Even under the best conditions, it is rarely a spontaneous purchase, Krauss said.

But after years in the business, Krauss has observed a pattern: The potential customer sees the piece, and then comes back with the partner in tow. They return again after measuring the available space, and then they go home to think about it and on the fourth visit, make the deal.

With that kind of buying pattern, Krauss and his wife and business manager, Christine, have seen the advantage of having their products in potential customers' line of vision. The new Aubuchon Hardware on Wilton Road in Farmington has a Native Woods conference table and stools for customers to use; Shiretown Insurance on Main Street in Farmington has a bench; Wilderness Wine Shop, which sells select imported beers and wines on Main Street in Rangeley has sold several of Krauss' creations.

And one of the most well-known pieces is a huge conference table in the governor's office in the State House in Augusta that Krauss made with Industry furniture maker, Mark Prentiss.

Native Wood's furniture is also in the White Mountains Artisan Gallery in North Conway, N.H.; Crockett interiors in Gorham; and Philbrick Place in Bethel.

Krauss said last year's 25 percent growth rate has slowed by about 10 percent but he and Dionne said they are still upbeat about the future.

Maine Huts & Trails, a nonprofit organization, is equipping its cabins, which will accommodate up to 40 guests, with Native Woods' dining tables and chairs made by W.A. Mitchell, which has a showroom at the Sugar Wood Gallery on Broadway in Farmington.

The sagging economy may also mean skiers heading to Sugarloaf, Saddleback and Sunday River will be more likely to stay in Maine, especially if the snow is anywhere near the record-breaking snowfall experienced last winter, Krauss and Dionne agreed.

And while the building boom has slowed, people still own and use their vacation homes.

Dionne said that with the high cost of airline travel and the poor economy, people will be rethinking ski vacations to places like Vail, Colo.

"They will be skiing in Maine. And from what I hear, season pass sales at Sugarloaf are up," Dionne said. "I am optimistic."

"We don't see that business slowing down," Krauss said.

Krauss said he has also redesigned some pieces to make them more affordable and will be stocking night tables, planters, stools, cutting boards, frames, clocks, bookends and cutting boards that will cost between $30 and $150 in time for the holidays.

Betty Jespersen -- 778-6991

bjespersen@centralmaine.com