Tucked away in a small shop brimming with all manner of clothing for alterations or repair, Shirley Brumfield of Perfect Day Alterations sits busy at her sewing machine. A gentleman just left a pile of pants that needed repairs. This is an everyday occurrence for Shirley.

She has been sewing for most of her life, but she didn’t start out thinking it would become her career.

Relocating to Blackfoot from Nampa, Idaho, in 1986, she took a job at the old Sugar Factory in ag fertilizer sales. This was a wholesale position she enjoyed; however, in 2004, the business model changed to include retail sales, and, not wanting to “work the counter,” she opted to leave.

A business opportunity arose for her to purchase the Perfect Day Wedding and Prom store, which offered not only wedding gowns and prom dresses but also wedding decorations. She had managed the store for seven years, handling wedding decorations, sewing and dress alterations.

Her late husband, Ray Brumfield, helped her set up the events.

As you might imagine, setting up decorations for weddings every weekend, along with running the store, became more than Shirley wanted to handle, so she sold the decoration portion of the business and moved her shop to another location on Maple Street, and changed the business name to Perfect Day Alterations. She remained at this location for about three years before her business grew to the point that a larger location was needed.

Now located at 625 W. Pacific St., Shirley keeps busy with everything from “tents to wedding dress,” as she puts it. I’ve never been to her shop when she wasn’t busy fitting a bride-to-be for an altered wedding dress or sewing a zipper into a favorite pair of pants for an older gentleman.

Shirley will also create items for her customers, but alterations are her primary offering.

Not one to sit still, she is a member of the Lions Club and participates in their major fundraiser each year, selling programs for the Para Mutual races at the East Idaho State Fair. These funds are used to provide scholarships for graduating seniors.

Brumfield is also a member of the Potato Museum’s board of directors, which she greatly enjoys. They are currently doing some painting at the museum in preparation for the summer season.

Shirley is a delightful lady, always smiling and happy to see her customers. She loves to read and even sew for herself when she’s not at work or on the go.

Perfect Day Alterations is located at 625 W Pacific St., Ste. 6. Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m. You can contact her at 208-317-7617.