Handmade paper takes flight in Tia Kramer's lovely sculptural jewelry

Yes, Tia Kramer's evocative jewelry is made of paper. But not just any paper. The Capitol Hill-based multimedia artist crafts her sculptural earrings, necklaces and bracelets out of a rare form of paper she makes by hand.

Kramer discovered her "obsession" with handmade Philippine paper during an undergraduate course at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn. She was later commissioned by the college to create a sculptural paper installation that now hangs in a bright hallway in the psychology department.

While doing sunlight tests for the installation using small discs of colored paper, Kramer was captivated by the beauty in each handmade disc and soon began replicating and selling them as earrings. Today, Kramer's Gasworks workspace is a kaleidoscope -- she works in more than 75 colors -- of innovative jewelry.

Kramer's bright, splashy jewelry conveys a sense of lightness. The way she pairs complementary or contrasting colors in feminine, sculptural shapes is joyful and captivating. Her pieces have bold, sensual elements, but the overall design is delicate. Many look as if they might take flight at any moment.

Inspired by negative space, like that of an atrium, and naturally occurring suspension, like that of clotheslines or bridges, Kramer applies elements of these situations -- balanced angles, inherent lightness, a marriage of structure and softness -- to her jewelry. The result is that her earrings look as if they're just floating below your ear, and her necklaces just resting on your collarbone.

Kramer cold-forms her jewelry using pressure instead of heat. By bending the silver and gold rather than cutting and reattaching it, she is able to create angles of tension in each form. That tension helps Kramer achieve her final designs when she's stretching very strong Philippine paper over the energized angles.

She recently began working in 18-karat gold as well as sterling silver, and looks forward to expanding her offering of gold pieces in the near future.

Kramer's handmade earrings ($48-$178), necklaces ($98-$200) and bracelets ($178-$250) are available at Horseshoe in Ballard, Retail Therapy in Capitol Hill and online at www.tiakramerjewelry.com.

Commissioned custom pieces vary in price depending on design difficulty and materials, but usually start at $98. Custom consultations can take place over the phone or at Kramer's Gasworks studio.

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