For Neli Tolman, owning and operating her own sewing business always seemed like a pipe dream. This year, however, her dream became a reality when she set up her own shop, Nelis Alterations, 130 Main St., in Hermiston.

Tolman said she has been sewing for as long as she can remember and that it has always been a large hobby of hers.

I think Ive been sewing for as long as I could hold a needle, she said. It is just something that has always made me happy.

Throughout the years, Tolman has worked as a seamstress through her church, taught sewing classes at Auntie Idas sewing shop, worked as a seamstress at a dry cleaner and took on miscellaneous sewing jobs at her family home in Hermiston.

With all her years sewing in the Hermiston community, she said she has built up quite a large clientele and positive reputation, which has made it easy to start up her own business.

Tolman said she held a grand opening for her new business Saturday during Funfest, although she has been open to customers for the past couple of months.

At her new shop, Tolman said she mainly does clothing alterations, such as adjusting hemlines and fixing clothes, but about 40 percent of her time is spent making clothes.

Tolman said she makes dresses for all occasions, including weddings and quinceaneras. She also designs and creates clothes unique to a persons situation or demand. In the past, she said she has made clothing for people with prosthesis, women without breasts and even kilts that would be good for hunting. She said she also works with leather and a variety of other types of fabrics and materials.

There is really nothing that is off limits, she said. Anything that can be sewn, I can sew. Since opening, Tolman said business is booming and her skills are always in demand.

Yesterday, I had 42 customers come in, she said Friday. Before I even had my doors open, I had customers wanting something done.

As of now, Tolman is the only employee, although her family occasionally pitches in to man the front desk or carry tables and equipment when needed.

Right now, Im trying to do everything myself, she said. So it has been pretty busy.

Tolman said she also manages Dennys Restaurant, working both day and swing shifts, although, by the fall, she hopes to make the business a full-time endeavor.

In the future, she plans to expand her work station area in the back of the building to include three sewing stations for additional employees, she said.

Tolman said pricing for her services varies by how much time and effort a project may require. Right now, she is making a couple of shorter dresses that run at about $100 per dress, but longer gowns could run anywhere from $150 to $200, she said. The cost to hem a pair of pants is about $12.

Store hours are currently 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, but Tolman said that may change when she starts running the business full-time.

For more information, or to set up an appointment at Nelis Alterations, call 541-571-5578.