Montpelier,Vermont entrepreneur Katie Tomai, caulking gun in hand, draws an even bead along the loft window frame edge, prepping to paint her own very first home at Yestermorrow, the renowned Mad River Valley design build school.

Katie's irresistible determination and focus inform her every day mission as she completes her vision after taking her tiny home project from the ground up in Warren.

How often do you get to build your own house in class?

Not having ever done any real building or carpentry, she's learning so much and excited about the post-painting stage, despite this first foray taking much longer than she initially imagined, to thread her electrical wire in place.

Let there be light.

This amazing stick built gypsy home, derived from the tiny house movement, attached and glued to the Sure-Trac trailer to which it will stay married providing flexibility of view and place has recycled and new Anderson windows that open to let in the sun and fresh air. A dormer off the back with a big window means a sleeping loft with a view. A window box at the front end for added cross draft.

Ward Lumber Mill locally sourced pine siding from Moretown, foam board insulation (spray foam forsaken: off gassing concerns), a greywater filtration system for the biodegradable soap and water, and a composting toilet consistent with simplicity of purpose.

No land in hand yet, she's aiming to be close to Vermont's state capitol, Montpelier and you can be sure she'll find something sweet to roll her living room onto.

Katie's got a wonderful sense of style and the ability to execute her vision and get to the finish line. Yestermorow, she explained, is a wonderful place for "in-betweeners". Having been in Nepal after graduating from UVM in 2010, she's found an amazing mid-station. Miss Tomai has the right stuff, is off to an auspicious start, and is likely to be a multi-millionaire by the time she's 40.

You can tell this super achiever has great things in store. Bravissima.