Today's featured artist is Mel Roska

Who are you?

My name is Mel Roska. I live in San Francisco with my boyfriend and my two cats, Ava and Nick Nolte.

What do you create?

Mostly I make notebooks out of paper that would have otherwise been thrown away, using the album covers from old scratched records. I also have been known to make buttons, postcards, collages and even paintings.

Are you able to support yourself with your creations?

Not yet. I like to dream that that will happen someday. Right now I have to work at a 9-5 desk job.

Where do you sell your creations?

At this point I am only selling at etsy.com. Which is fine because etsy is awesome! http://roska.etsy.com/

Where do you create?

We have a really nice one bedroom apartment, but it is tiny. I have a tendency to take over our living room making books. Most of the time there is paper everywhere!

What inspires you?

I am inspired by old books that I pick up at thrift stores and estate sales, especially wildlife guides. I'm inspired by San Francisco, there is so much to see everytime I walk out my door; the street art, the architecture, the fashion. Not to mention the amazing artists who are working here. There are also a couple of blogs I look at that are always inspiring me, http://myloveforyou.typepad.com/, written by an awesome gal featuring up and coming artists, and http://acejet170.typepad.com/, which is a blog about typography and graphic design.

What are your goals?

I would love to be able to sell on etsy full time, but I think for me that's not a realistic goal. So, I hope to find a job that allows me to be use my creativity everyday, and for roska handmade to grow and grow.

What do you friends and family think of your creations?

My friends and family have been so supportive. I think most of them have a roska handmade notebook. My mom and my friend jessica actually have their own etsy shops, http://jillroska.etsy.com/ and http://sweetfortreats.etsy.com/, respectively, so we have been helping each other out.

What do you do when you are not creating?

Unfortunately, I mostly work. But if I'm not at work you can probably find me at the movies, I love movies and have a yearly goal to watch 200 movies I've never seen before, or you may find me at the thrift stores, I am a shopaholic! Every tuesday night I'm at the Edinburgh Castle, a bar with where my friends and I participate (and dominate) a weekly pub trivia quiz. I also have three blogs that I write for; my personal craft blog, http://melroska.com/, my movie blog, http://oneandoneisfourhundred.blogspot.com/, and my friend's blog, which I've just started writing for, http://8bitlouie.blogspot.com/. I've got to keep busy!

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

I am so glad I found etsy! It's really changed my life. When I started making books I really had no inkling that I would be able to be even semisuccessful selling them to anyone. Etsy has introduced me to a whole new world of awesome crafts and a global community of really great people.