Tessoro Jewelry

Deborah Bushinski is the artist and founder of Tessoro jewelry. Working with a small family owned wood products company in Duluth, Minnesota she is able to access standing dead trees that are marked for cutting; the bark is harvested from these trees, reducing air pollution, as this bark would ultimately be burned at the mills. This bark is carefully selected for interesting surface features, such as the lichens on the bark that provide the color and texture to many of her designs.

Back in the Minnetonka, Minnesota studio the bark is carefully cleaned and stacked under weight to "cure" for 4-6 months before being used. Tessoro's "green" practices continue by reclaiming copper from scrapped car radiators. The copper is torn from the casing, sanded and cleaned prior to ending up on the bench for inclusion in Tessoro jewelry designs.

The selection of the specific bark for each design is very important. The bark then is cut or torn into the shape needed and coated with an acrylic polymer sealing the wood, enhancing the color as well as bolstering the natural durability of the bark. Our pin backs and post earrings utilize two-part epoxy for a very strong bond onto the bark.
The final touches to many designs include the use of semi-precious gemstones as well as freshwater pearls, and simple hematite or sterling beads to add contrast to the bark. Sterling silver and copper, hand hammered to create subtle nuances and irregularities, lend structure and boldness to other designs.
Tessoro truly aims to create the ultimate in art jewelry for every day, every woman.