The Jeweller's Florist is a Jewellery Design and Manufacture company owned by South African designer, Shannon Thompson.Shannon studied both Graphic Design and Jewellery Design and Manufacture after school, receiving her National Diploma for both courses. She thoroughly enjoyed the photography and fine art aspect of Graphic Design as well as the Business Studies module which sparked her interest in wanting to become an entrepreneur.After completing her Graphic Design Diploma in 2006 she went on to study Jewellery Design and Manufacture.Shannon has always loved nature and the outdoors, and the inspiration for her pieces of jewellery comes from her childhood memories of sitting in her grandparents' garden taking in the wonders of nature and admiring all the shapes and colours of the beautiful blooms that surrounded her. "I love the beauty and feminine qualities of flowers and have fond childhood memories of a perfectly manicured garden, cared for by my grandparents.The garden was and still is a place of escape. It is a place for quiet contemplation and reflection. Flowers appeal to all of our senses: touch, taste, sight and of course smell. They have magical qualities, shapes and colours.I love watching the bird life and this too is an inspiration for my work.Different flowers symbolize different emotions and feelings. The daisy is a symbol of purity, innocence, loyal love, refinement, fertility, thoughtfulness and mature calm.The flower symbolism associated with the sweet pea is bliss, delicate pleasure, good bye, departure and ‘thank you for a lovely time'. The jasmine is associated with attachment, sensuality, modesty, grace and elegance. I design jewellery based on this symbolism and on the thoughts and feelings that my mind drifted to as a child while sitting quietly in my grandparents' garden.Flowers have great emotion attached to them and invoke a sense of nostalgia in me. They are a gift of love as is my jewellery."