A Possession Obsession: Conversation With Ronda Carman

Native Texan Ronda Carman spent 15 years in the world of marketing and nonprofits before founding All the Best Blog—A Passport to Stylish Living in 2007. After moving to Scotland, Carman discovered that she was short on storage: So, she decided to celebrate her musings and findings online. All the Best was an immediate outlet for Carman’s passion for design and an elegant lifestyle. It was also a tremendous success in the media world, garnering her a global audience. (One of her most popular columns, “Soup on Sunday” actually began after her 14-year-old son suggested the idea of reflecting on Carman’s long-standing ritual of making a weekly soup).Here, she gives MRKstyle a peek at her treasured vintage beaded necklace and pearls.

Tell us about this precious object:
My grandmother used to wear beaded necklaces with her pearls. I was always mesmerized by those necklaces and her style. No matter what she was wearing, I was drawn to her face and her jewelry.

How do you live with your heirloom?
I wear my beads layered and stacked all the time. Not only does it remind me of my grandmother, but it gives me something to twist, twirl and clutch when I am on the phone or at my desk.

Who in your life has most influenced your personal style?
I am inspired by many. Of course my mother is a lover of jewelery, so that’s in my genes. I also adore the book The Power of Style. I read it all the time. The one thing that always strikes me is that many of the women who I admire were not classic beauties in the true sense of the word. It was their intrinsic sense of style that propelled them into the public eye.

[Fill in the blank] Whenever I look at________, I can’t help but smile.
My family and our miniature schnauzer Izzie.

What’s the best part of your day?
I am a morning person. I love it when the sun comes up and pushes darkness out of corners. A cup of coffee and a few moments alone is pure bliss.

What’s the most memorable gift you’ve ever received?
My engagement ring. My husband proposed on my favorite night of the year: Christmas Eve.

Session Notes from Monica: “The blurry effect here was achieved by focusing the camera and then moving it quickly as I shot Ronda’s pearls. The reason Ithought the blurriness would be interesting was because Ronda kept talking about how her grandmother always twirled and played with her necklaces. I love how unexpected the picture turned out.”