Come on in and make yourself at home. The artists supporting the Lawrenceville Main Street Artists Network want you to feel comfortable at their gallery. It’s not an intimidating place and you won’t find droll, elite-types snobbishly analyzing paintings.

You’re far more likely to find a friendly face belonging to one of the member artists who will greet you, answer questions, and help you pick something out. On Fridays, you’ll even be offered hot cider and cookies.

And you’re certain to find something that catches your eye.

It may be a painting, a sculpture, or hand-crafted jewelry. It could be something whimsical, like Tamara Morhaim’s Buttonhedz dolls — which look like patchwork versions of something Jim Henson would dream up. Looking for a scarf? Teresa Prashad’s tye-dye numbers are on sale at the gallery.

Need a last-minute stocking stuffer? A fabric bookmark or flower by Janneke Van der Ree could do the trick, and why not label it with a gift tag designed by Kim Moulder?

“It’s not stuffy,” says jewelry designer Nancy Troske, a member of the Artists Network since last June. “I think a lot of times, people hear ‘art gallery’ and they’re afraid to walk in. They think the paintings are going to be $20,000, and we’re trying to get people to know it’s a friendly, gift-oriented art gallery."

The Lawrenceville Main Street Artists Network is a co-op with 29 current members (and two recently open slots to be filled soon) that opened in January 2010. In addition to monthly exhibits that highlight member artists, the Artists Network holds classes for artists of all ages, hosts kids birthday parties and other youngster-friendly events, such as a week of children’s activities scheduled for Dec. 27-31.

Marge Miller is a member artist who started painting three years ago after raising her children and helping run a family business. She moved to Lawrence Township four years ago and happened to see a sign for a gallery advertising classes. That led to studying with professional artists, including traveling to Italy’s Amalfi Coast and Sicily to study landscape painting.

Paintings by Miller on view at the gallery include “Amalfi Sunset,” based on a photo she took in Italy. The work is marked by blue rolling water and a sky that’s pink from the sun setting behind a cliff dotted with homes.

A more personal piece, is “Portrait of Jakob,” a graphite drawing of her grandson. The boy is lying on a couch, and his expression is one of peace and focus. It isn’t for sale, Miller plans on giving it to her grandson, but it’s part of the exhibit to give visitors an idea of Miller’s portrait work.

“I think my abilities have really grown since becoming a member because there’s so much inspiration here.” Miller says. “The people become friends, it’s just a wonderful endeavor that we’re all pulling together to make successful. And it’s wonderful to have an opportunity to show your stuff.”

Painting was a passion of Miller’s for years, but she says she had no idea she’d join a gallery when she started putting her brush to canvas.

“I did it for my own pleasure, I just wanted to see where things would lead. I wasn’t seeking anything, I just wanted to paint, which I had waited most of my life to do.”

Troske’s jewelry includes a necklace featuring a pendant made from cloisonné enameling, a time-consuming process involving a thin wire strip (Troske says it looks likes dental floss but has some body so that it can maintain a shape). Layers of foil are added to create patterns of different colors, with each layer fired until it reaches the top of the wire, at which point the artist grinds it down to make the surface smooth.

The pendant features a turquoise, sky-like background with green leaf shapes and pink and purple flowers. Its current price under $150 is, Troske says, a bargain, and a result of the ever-slow economy. Other highlights include simple but colorful round earrings and a bracelet made of copper strands.

Troske is a jewelry maker by trade who teaches jewelry making at the Artists Network’s gallery and at the West Windsor Arts Center. She moved to Princeton last year, and was anxious to become part of the area’s artistic community, which she knew about through visits to family who live here. She was invited to join the Artists Network last summer.

“I loved the people, it’s very collaborative,” she says. “Everybody acts like they’re getting paid a big salary to be here and to work it.”

Lawrenceville Main Street Artists Network’s gallery is located at 2683 Main St., Lawrenceville. The gallery has extended hours through December: Thursday 1-4 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Hours starting Jan. 2: Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (Closed New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day). For information, call 609-512-1359 or go to www.lmsartistsnetwork.com.