SUMMARY: While Daniel’s dress was undeniably beautiful, Kara’s should have won. It was her time to shine; the bodice on her piece was particularly well constructed.

CLOSER LOOK: We listened to Zulema yammer on about time management each week until her elimination. This week we watched Chloe struggle to finish her botanical dress. An important question arises: When should one leaf good enough alone?

Let’s look at this week’s PR challenge: you get $100 to design a garment using flowers and plants. Chloe’s creative brain matter shifted into high gear so quickly, the other parts neglected to work on time management. She began to glue leaves on to her muslin structure one by one. Diligent, ambitious, perfectionist. Chloe reminded us those things don’t matter if you can’t meet a deadline. Her creative vision became blinding and she lost sight of her goal: staying in the game.

I work until the last minute on everything, not because I start too late, but because I can’t call it quits. Where does the balance lie between creative vision and the clock? Is the best work done with a deadline or without one? How does a creative, innovative person distinguish an ambitious plan from an over-ambitious one?