Archive for the ‘Tips & Trends’ Category

Toddler Christening

Monday, July 20th, 2009

While many christenings take place in infancy, there are times and circumstances in which these ceremonies are put off until a child is a bit older. In these cases, there is a need for christening-styled dresses in toddler sizes. Most of our selection of toddler christening wear is designed with fabrics and elements similar to our popular gown styles, but made in a tea-length more appropriate for an active child.

What About Fabric?

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

Shopping for christening gowns and baptism outfits online has its advantages (convenience of 24/7 shopping, large selection of styles and and sizes) and disadvantages, one of the biggest being that you can’t actually *feel* your selections before ordering them. We get that!

To offset that challenge, we’ve provided detailed descriptions of the fabrics we use in each garment. To find this information, click on the ‘Details…’ link found on the order page for each specific style. The fabric will be listed in the bullet points in bold font. Click the fabric name to see a drop-down description of that fabric. You can also find a compiled list of the textiles we use here. 

In addition to the information found on each page, we proudly offer an unparalleled return policy with no re-stocking fees (in fact, we encourage you to order up to three outfits to make the style and size selection process easier!).

Towels for Infant Baptism and Christening

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Most infant baptism and christening ceremonies involve sprinkling or immersion in water, and some include anointing with oil. A pretty towel makes a practical, thoughtful christening accessory or baptismal gift. We currently offer three small towel styles at One Small Child: each can be ordered with personalized embroidery, or unadorned, to be hand-embroidered by a loved one as a sentimental keepsake of baby’s special day.

Shipping: A Cautionary Tale

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

Gather around dear friends, I have a story to tell.

Once upon a time, and every once in a while, despite our best efforts, shipments arrive late. For a special occasion, that can have devastating consequences…a day late for a christening, baptism, first communion, or wedding might mean that a valued (as well as busy and likely stressed under the circumstances) customer may have to run all over town at the last minute trying to find a replacement outfit, or worse, not be able to find what is needed at all.

Though the significance of these special days is truly in the people involved rather than pieces of clothing and accessories, we all want things to be as perfect as envisioned for a lifetime. It literally breaks our hearts when we receive news that a deadline was not met. In an effort to lessen the possiblity of this happening to you, I’d like to explain a few things that may be helpful to know when planning your online special occasion purchase.

1-About us: We have an amazingly talented and caring staff working full time to meet your needs. Every (and I do mean every) effort is made to fulfill all orders in a timely manner.

Our shipping policy lets you know the time frame within which you can expect your order to leave our facility. We offer a handy delivery chart to demonstrate the number of days it takes for your order to be delivered to you based on the day we receive your order. (Be sure to notice if you’re ordering a non-stock item: construction of your garment will add one week to the time listed on the chart.)

On very rare occasions, we experience human moments that can affect the delivery time of your order. In these circumstances, our policy is to do anything and everything within our control to get it to you on time.

2-About our shippers: We offer the shipping services of two companies. It is important to note a few things about each, as they both have pros and cons. Regarding both companies–once your package leaves our facility, it is beyond our immediate control.

United States Postal Service: Our free shipping offer utilizes USPS Priority Mail. The biggest benefit of this service is the speed with which most packages are delivered–usually within 2-3 business days. That said, there are a couple drawbacks that can make a big difference in a time crunch:

  -This service is not guaranteed to be delivered in a specific time frame and can take up to a week…more, if your package happens to get lost, which leads me to the next point.

  -The postal service does not offer tracking of a package while it’s in their system. All packages leave our facility with a delivery confirmation number, which means that the only information we (or you) can obtain once the package is in the USPS system is the date and time of actual delivery. In the event a package is lost, the best/fastest way to track it down is for you to contact your local Post Master and mail carrier.

FedEx: Our express shipping services are provided by FedEx. FedEx offers in-transit package tracking and guaranteed delivery dates. The important thing to know when selecting the level of service you need is this: the ‘day count’ begins the day after your shipment leaves our facility. (Example: Next Day is delivered the next business day after shipment…2 Day is delivered two business days after shipment with the day after shipment being the first day. If that doesn’t make sense, refer to our delivery chart.)

Keep in mind that Saturday is not considered a business day, so if you’re ordering on Friday and need your order Saturday, you have to specify Next Day Saturday. If you’re ordering on Friday and need it Saturday, be sure to CALL us so we can let you know if it is possible to ship your order same day or not.

3-About you: Yep, you! It’s important for you first, to be informed and to understand the specifics when time is short. And second, to let us know if there’s a problem so we can help you resolve any delivery issues. If your package hasn’t arrived as expected–let us know! We can often ship an emergency replacement in time if you give us enough notice. If you call Friday afternoon after our shipments for the day have left about a gown you need on Saturday…our hands are tied. There’s nothing we can do but cry with you. And we will. But we’d rather not. :)

Christening Thank Yous

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

With special occasions come gifts of love and the presence of friends and family. When the big day is over (if you’re like me), you have your hands full with caring for your little ones and attending to the myriad tasks and responsibilities life happily brings…and sometimes the thoughtful words you wish to express just take more time and effort than you can muster.

Fortunately for you (and me!), the folks at Thank You Letters have provided a lovely christening thank you note resource for helping you get over the writer’s-block and get those tokens of appreciation out the door. It’s worth taking the time to do it…kind words of sincere gratitude have an amazing power to encourage and uplift the recipient. Do it today. The result is well worth the investment.

Christening Undercover

Saturday, January 24th, 2009

Have you given any thought to what goes under a christening gown or outfit? So much depends on what you’re working with and looking for. Is the fabric of your gown a light-weight sheer cotton or a heavy satin?  Is your gown short or long? Do you like a little extra pouf under a dress? Or do you just want good coverage beneath?

For your convenience, many of our christening gowns are included with an appropriate length slip made of pure combed cotton. If you choose a style that does not include a slip, or if you’re looking for just the right thing to wear beneath a family heirloom or a masterpiece you’ve crafted on your own, we offer a nice selection of christening slips a-la-carte in different styles and lengths:

Our basic cotton slip comes in two lengths and is perfect under any dress that needs a good lining, especially under sheer or hand-crocheted gowns. It is constructed with a cross-back, button free closure for ease of dressing baby.  This slip is available in two lengths to accomodate day-length (22-24″) as well as longer heirloom-length (32-34″) christening gowns. We can also make it in custom lengths for you–just let us know what you need, and we’ll be happy to whip one up for you (additional charges may apply for longer length). We offer a nice selection of embroidery options on this slip as well: you can have baby’s name and christening or birth date, a monogram, a cross, shamrock or meaningful phrase added to the hem, which adds a thoughtful, personal touch to a truly special outfit.

Our exclusive bouffant slip adds a nice fulness to any gown, and can be worn beneath our basic cotton slip, or alone under the christening gown, depending on your preference. It is available in three lengths: dress-length, day-length, and heirloom-length. It’s perfect under gowns of all styles, whether simple or frilly.

We haven’t forgotten the boys–we offer a nice selection of long-sleeved, short-sleeved, and sleeveless bodysuits to provide coverage and a little additional warmth beneath any christening suit (bonus: personalization is also available on these items), so no matter how you look at it, when it comes to christening undergarments, we’ve got you covered. ;)

Finishing Touches: Christening Shoes

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

I have a confession to make. My darling boy was without shoes on his blessing day, because in the hustle and bustle of getting everything gathered and ready and caring for my newborn…I forgot to get some little white shoes! And I, of all people, really have no excuse for that! Good thing he has cute toes…

Oh, wait! No! You should not do as I do! You are much more on top of things, I am certain. It is for you that we’ve gathered an extensive collection of christening shoes in a broad range of sizes (from newborn to toddlers), styles, and materials.

Depending on your sizing needs, you can select shoes made from the same fabric as your christening outfit, or shoes in a shade to match your ivory gown. We offer leather styles, hand-crocheted booties, mary-janes, oxfords, and ballet slippers.  

Here’s something else to consider: white shoes are available year-round at One Small Child–no worries about being out-of-season. So there’s no excuse! Don’t be like me: remember to get the shoes when you purchase your christening outfit, and we’ll all breathe a bit easier. ;)

The Perfect Christening Tuxedo

Thursday, August 14th, 2008

Little white tuxedos have long been a favorite for christenings, baptisms and blessings. They’re dressy, they’re masculine, and there’s just something about a tiny version of menswear that makes people stop and say, “Awwwww.”

I’ll be honest. Tuxedos for babies are not always easy to design, sew, or wear. They’re fairly complex in construction, and most suits for babies are designed exactly like their bigger counterparts, with a shirt, a vest or cummerbund, pants, and tie. The problem is: that’s a lot of stuff to fuss with on a squirmy little guy (especially a newborn). A shirt hanging out the back of my baby’s pants just isn’t quite the look I’m going for in a formal setting. Know what I mean?

Over the years, we’ve worked hard to produce our own version of the christening tuxedo…it’s taken a lot of making and tweaking and changing and updating, but I think we’ve finally got it! Our Ryker christening tuxedo is constructed of gorgeous polyester shantung…crisp and pristine white with a subtle silk-like texture. It’s trimmed with soft, lustrous matte satin. It’s intended to fit little babies (most imports are sized so big that the smallest suits fit in the 9-12 months size range, but our tuxedo is available in sizes newborn through 12 months.)–so we left out the vest and cummerbund. The best part: the shirt is constructed as a bodysuit, so no shirt-tails sneak out the back of the pants. Ever. It’s made here in the U.S.A., and it’s one-of-a-kind. Our tuxedo comes with a traditional bonnet, which can be substituted with a trendy beret at your request. Bottom line: It’s a suit sure to please all of baby’s loved ones.

Glimpse of Heaven Personalized Lullaby Album

Tuesday, July 1st, 2008

I first listened to this amazing album, Glimpse of Heaven by the talented sisters of Sister Song six years ago, when my oldest was just a baby. The tender lyrics and soothing music touched me deeply, and for most of her life, my little daughter has drifted off to sleep accompanied by lullabies recorded with her own name.

Over 1200 names are available (can you imagine recording an album 1200+ times?!). The album comes with baby’s name printed on the case, any spelling of the names listed can be used. If your child’s name is not listed, custom recordings can be made for an additional charge.

Whether you’re shopping for a friend, a godchild, or your own child, this CD is guaranteed not only to be the hit of the party, but to be loved and cherished for a lifetime. Order yours today!

New Style: Gilbert Smocked Boys’ Christening Romper

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

Here is our new boys’ smocked christening outfit, and I’m so tickled to have it on the site, ready to ship. It’s been a pet project of mine for a while now, and one of my favorite things about this job is seeing an idea blossom and transform into something that will become a treasured heirloom.

With short sleeves and long legs, this romper is a great fit for year-round christenings–a nice, soft mid-weight cotton with classic details (just add a sweater if the weather’s cool). The smocking is just gorgeous, but done in a way that keeps the overall look masculine. And here’s a bonus: if you happen to have twins, or want your new little boy’s outfit to look similar to the gown his big sister wore (or vice-versa), Gilbert looks stunning next to our Abigail smocked christening gown.