Share

cover art for En Gold's Steff Ball on ancient craftsmanship in a modern interiors world

Process The Podcast

En Gold's Steff Ball on ancient craftsmanship in a modern interiors world

Season 1, Ep. 49

In this episode, Steffanie Ball, founder and CEO of En Gold shares the journey of her business. She starting by sourcing vintage pieces on Facebook marketplace to designing her own collections, sold internationally. She explains how she discovered a gap in the market for unique and affordable furniture in Australia, which led her to start an Instagram account and eventually launch En Gold.


We discussed the challenges she faced in sourcing and manufacturing her products, including finding a stonemason to make marble plinths and navigating the production process in China. She also highlights the importance of embracing imperfections and the philosophy of Wabi Sabi in her designs.


En Gold is a furniture brand that specialises in handcrafted pieces made from native materials in the Philippines. The founder, Arielle Thomas, moved her family to the Philippines to be closer to the craft and ensure the pieces were made with justice. The brand's range includes Dali collections made from native timbers, seagrass, and rattan. The craft in the Philippines is untouched by technology, with everything being done manually. The process of creating En Gold's furniture involves hand braiding, hand weaving, hand sanding, hand painting, and screen printing. The brand also uses fossil stone, which is a soft and porous stone that is carved into tiles and used in their furniture.


Find En Gold here.

Find them on Instagram here.

Find your host Arielle on Instagram here.

And find us at Process in Instagram here.

See you next Sunday!

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 62. Ceramic Rituals: Forming Everyday Magic with Kemma's Mugs & Matcha

    01:05:55||Season 1, Ep. 62
    In this episode, Arielle Thomas interviews Emma Kaye, also known as Kemma, a viral Instagram ceramicist. They discuss Emma's journey from law school to becoming a successful ceramic artist, the challenges of keeping up with demand, and the evolution of her business. Emma shares her passion for creating art and the joy it brings to her and her customers. They also talk about the introduction of matcha to her business and the importance of incorporating rituals and self-care into daily life. Kemma discusses her journey of sourcing and testing matcha, partnering with a Japanese farm, and creating a slow and intentional business. She emphasises the importance of finding the right matcha and working with a farm that has a long history of matcha production.Kemma shares the positive feedback she has received from customers and the joy she finds in creating products that make people feel great. She also talks about her content creation process on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and how she balances her creative work with the business side of Kemma. She reflects on the value of support from friends and the inspiration she finds in travel and artist residencies. She shares her plans for the future, including launching more art prints and continuing to make everyday moments more special.To learn more about Kemma and shop her pieces, find her Instagram here.Find her website here.Find your host, Arielle Thomas on Instagram here.Learn more about the production company Cinema Thom here.See you next Sunday x
  • 61. Petit: I'm stuck and I've got to make a change

    23:07||Season 1, Ep. 61
    In this episode, the host, Arielle Thomas, discusses her struggle with confidence and selling herself and her work. She talks about the challenges she faces in pitching and signing new clients recently, especially in the current economic climate. She shares the goal of making her podcast the biggest creative podcast in Australia and building her production company, Cinema Thom, into a profitable business. She also mentions working on a course to teach others how to sell and build their businesses with video. Arielle expresses her uncertainty and the need for self-work to overcome her insecurities and navigate her multi-faceted career.Honest and raw as a creative business owner, hopefully, this episode will make our audience feel less alone. Find Process the Podcast on Instagram here. Find Process the Podcast on TikTok here. Find your host, Arielle Thomas on Instagram here. Find your host Arielle Thomas on Tik Tok here.
  • 60. Curing loneliness with curated events: Club Sup's Sophie McIntyre

    01:10:48||Season 1, Ep. 60
    Club Sub is a supper club that focuses on creating a community and helping people make friends. It offers various events such as book swaps, lunch clubs, and brand events. The goal is to provide a space where people can connect and feel supported. The founder, Sophie McIntyre, started Club Sub after realising the importance of fostering friendships and their impact on one's life. The brand is built around creating a homey and nostalgic atmosphere, with shared plates and a focus on community. Building strong relationships with restaurants is important to maintain consistency and a sense of belonging. Sophie shares her vision of creating inclusive spaces where people can come together, make new friends, and have memorable experiences. Club Sup also collaborates with brands to develop branded events that align with their values and provide unique experiences for their communities. The ultimate goal is to expand nationally and create a membership-based community that offers access to exclusive events and supports local businesses. Thank you for your service Sophie! To learn more about Club Sup, check them out online here. Find Club Sup on Instagram here. Find your host Arielle Thomas on Instagram here. Follow Process the Podcast on Instagram here. See you next Sunday x
  • 59. Tiny Disco's Chelsea Morley on the cost of Creativity: Highs, Lows, Business, and Self-Neglect

    01:41:51||Season 1, Ep. 59
    The conversation between Arielle Thomas and Chelsea Morley explores their experiences as competitors in the video production industry and their journeys as women in business. They discuss their similar aesthetics and their challenges in a small market with limited resources. Chelsea delves into her career path, from working in TV to starting their own video production company. They share their experiences with burnout and the importance of taking time for self-care. The conversation highlights the complexities of running a business and the emotional toll it can take. Chelsea discusses her personal journey of neglecting herself while building her business, the importance of healing trauma while growing a business, the value of learning from hard jobs and gaining experience, the need for young team members to be hungry and willing to learn, the importance of cash flow and financial diligence in running a business, the shift in Tiny Disco's business model, the process of receiving briefs and the creative process, and the focus on storytelling rather than tracking the success of the work. In this final part of the conversation, Arielle discusses the importance of understanding the economics of a product and consumer behaviour when creating content. She also talks about the need to speak the language of clients and mirror their goals in order to sell effectively. Arielle reflects on the ethics of selling and how she reconciles it with her love for the craft. Chelsea shares insights into the creative process at Tiny Disco and the shift from being a production-focused agency to a creative agency. She emphasises the importance of trust and delegation in allowing her team to take on more creative responsibilities. She also discusses the future of the industry, including her point of view on the decline of phone footage for brands and the increasing demand for visually branded content on social media.In this episode, Chelsea shares her experience with mental health. If you, or someone you know is struggling please use the the Beyond Blue resources. Call their hotline on 1300 224 636 or via the Beyond Blue web chat. Books and products mentioned in this episode: Period Power: https://amzn.to/3WVg3TrAnd Arielle's new favourite camera, the Canon R50: https://amzn.to/3SLlZMlTo learn more about Chelsea, head to her Instagram here. To learn more about Tiny Disco, find them here. To learn more about your host Arielle, find her here. To get your daily dose of Process the Podcast, find us here. See you next Sunday x
  • 58. Petit: It's not just who you know... it's who trust you. An AMA with Kiara from my team!

    53:05||Season 1, Ep. 58
    In this conversation, Arielle and Kiara discuss various topics related to their work and the industry. As Thom's newest hire, the creative industry is the Wild West for newcomers when working out things like how to make money and how to sustain clients. They talk about the tender process for acquiring clients, the importance of trust in building relationships, and the role of case studies in proving trustworthiness. They also discuss the balance between personal time and work time, and how they set boundaries to maintain that balance. Time blocking is a big one for Arielle. They also talk about the pressure of running a business and the value of case studies in proving the worth of their work. Arielle serves as a mentor to Kiara, guiding her in her career and we hope it helps you too! This chat references Sophia Athas's episode, where we talk all things Hatrik House! Find it here. Find Process the Podcast on Instagram here.Find your host Arielle on Instagram here. See you next Sunday!
  • 57. Ready for Takeoff: Michelle Banares' Guide to Content Creation

    01:43:37||Season 1, Ep. 57
    Michelle Banares discusses her career as an interior designer, content creator, and former band member (that last one is a joke). She talks about her love for hobbies and her diverse range of interests. Michelle also shares her experience of moving from Sydney to Melbourne during the COVID-19 lockdown and the impact it had on her to go all in. She discusses the challenges of being a content creator and the pressure to curate a polished image on social media. Michelle also talks about her plans for an interview series and her approach to planning and executing content shoots. Michelle discusses her thoughts on TikTok and her upcoming trip to Copenhagen for Fashion Week. She talks about her experience writing articles and doing TikTok interviews for Fashion Journal. Michelle also shares her plans for the future, including her interest in interior design and consulting. She reflects on the pressure and challenges of being a creator and the importance of staying true to oneself. In this final part of the conversation, Arielle and Michelle discuss monetising Substack, upcoming changes to Instagram, the importance of the save section, their relationships with their parents, and their collaboration with other creators. They also talk about photography techniques and the challenges of people-pleasing in the creator space.Check out Michelle Banares on Instagram here. Check out all her content creator equipment and gear list here. Check out the Process the Podcast Instagram here. And check out your host Arielle Thomas's Instagram here. See you next Sunday!
  • 56. Edward Woodley on the power of partnership across creativity, exhibiting and existing in the art world today

    01:13:12||Season 1, Ep. 56
    In this episode, Arielle sits down with artist Edward Woodley, the co-founder of China Heights. They discuss the evolution of the gallery and his role as a gallery director. He talks about the importance of partnerships and the benefits of working with a business-savvy partner. Eddie also shares his multidisciplinary approach to art and his childhood growing up in a creative environment. He explains how China Heights started as a collective and transformed into a gallery and the challenges and successes they've experienced over the years. Edward discusses the gallery's representation of artists and the criteria they look for in selecting artists to work with. He also touches on their partnerships with other businesses, such as Paramount House and an upcoming project in Taylor Square. China Heights is a gallery that aims to change the traditional gallery model by fostering a partnership between the artist and the gallery. They prioritise open dialogue and collaboration, treating the relationship as a partnership rather than a hierarchical structure. The gallery focuses on showcasing a diverse range of artists and their work, with an emphasis on supporting and developing the artist's career. They also work on various projects, including collaborations with brands and hotels to integrate art into different spaces. The gallery encourages artists to use social media as a tool to showcase their work and build a community. Patience and consistency are key in the art world, and artists should focus on creating meaningful work rather than seeking immediate success. To learn more about China Heights, head to their website here. Visit China Heights on Instagram here. Learn more about Edward's own work here. Follow your host Arielle on Instagram here. Follow Process the Podcast on Instagram here. See you next Sunday!
  • 55. Evolving, adapting and yapping with iconic photographer Hannah Scott-Stevenson

    01:51:42||Season 1, Ep. 55
    In this conversation, Arielle Thomas interviews the iconic Sydney photographer Hannah Scott-Stevenson. They discuss Hannah's journey into photography, her influences, and her experiences working in New York. They touch on the importance of finding one's own style and the role of luck and hard work in a successful career. The conversation highlights the support of family and loved ones and the opportunities that arise from being in the right place at the right time. She reflects on her personal growth and rediscovering her creative process after becoming a mother. She also talks about the challenges of balancing creativity and client expectations in the advertising industry. She discusses her gear preferences and the shift in the editorial landscape towards branded stories. In this final part of the conversation, Arielle and Hannah discuss the challenges and rewards of working in the fashion industry. They talk about the limitations of shooting for fashion magazines and the importance of personal creative projects. They also touch on the fun and freedom of working on music videos and the importance of building rapport with talent. They discuss the realities of the industry, including the high cost of living and the need to balance personal and commercial work. They also reflect on the process of looking back at their own work and the self-doubt that comes with being creative. Overall, they emphasise the importance of prioritising and finding joy in the creative process.Find Hannah on Instagram here. Find Process the Podcast on Instagram here. Find your host, Arielle on Instagram here. See you next Sunday!
  • 54. "I can do it better" with content creator Elodie Russell

    01:04:22||Season 1, Ep. 54
    Elodie Russell is a content creator shooting fashion pieces on herself for the biggest luxury brands in the world. In this episode we unpack her journey from being a model to becoming a content creator and working with high-end brands. She talks about her experiences in the fashion industry, including traveling overseas for modelling gigs and participating in fashion weeks. Elodie emphasises the importance of standing out as a content creator and finding your own style. She also shares her insights on the financial aspects of working with different brands and the challenges of balancing creativity and professionalism. Elodie shares her tips for shooting content, including using a tripod and finding unique locations. There is so much content creation advice in this episode, we hope you love it! Find Elodie Russell on Instagram here. Find Elodie on Tik Tok here.Follow Process the Podcast on Instagram here. Hit that subscribe button :)See you next Sunday!