Project Runway 2, Episode 9: What Happened To The Flowers?

The guys are grabbing some java in their Atlas apartment kitchen. Nick has a new rule to add to their blackboard. “Do not go out like Zulema!” When Zulema took Nick’s model, all the designers became tense. Nick admits he was relieved to see her leave. Chloe wasn’t surprised that Zulema was the one to go. She never placed in her top three; her garments was poorly fitted and poorly sewn. Kara feels like pinching herself now that she’s in the top six. It’s a nice surprise.

At the runway, Heidi greets the designers. Before sharing the next challenge, she brings out the winning and losing designer’s models. Tarah and Rebecca take their places beside her as Heidi reminds them of the models’ competition. The model paired with the winner of Project Runway will receive a fashion spread in Elle magazine. Daniel says that it’s unfortunate the way things turned out, as Tarah has been a good friend as well as a great model. He opts to stick with his model, Rebecca; she has been an angel to him. Heidi congratulates Rebecca and Tarah is “out.” Nick finds this so emotional as Tarah really looked up to him. With a wave and a “bye,” Heidi promises to see the designers at the runway.

Back at the apartment, the fellas decide to take a trip to the roof. Maybe they can see heaven much better. Dunno. Even though they are all friends, they know they are each other’s competition. Santino tells us that he won’t be happy until he’s the bleeping winner. The four snap happy pictures of each other… say “cheese.” Meanwhile, in the girls’ apartment, Kara cleans the sink while Chloe tells us that it’s shocking that there aren’t more women left in the competition. She hopes one of them makes it to the final three. There should be one woman at Fashion Week. The designers settle in for a good night’s sleep.

It’s 6:00 a.m. and we see Tim walking the halls of the Atlas. Knocking on the door of the men’s digs, he finds the guys awake and ready to start the day. “Tim Gunn’s here!” They’re going on a field trip. Nick hopes that they visit a fabulous Park Ave. garden party, but he’s not counting on it. Tim tells them to join him downstairs, but first he has to wake the girls. The ladies are also already awake so Tim gives them five minutes to join him. The designers find their way downstairs. Pied Piper Tim and his little pets make their way down the New York City streets.

Andrae is hoping to go to Central Park, meanwhile Daniel notices that there are no fabric stores on the street. What does Tim, that wascally wabbit, have planned? Tim takes a left into the Plant House; and jaws drop. Tim faces the shocked designers and asks, “Where better to shop for a garden party than in the flower district?” Yep, they will be designing dresses using plants and flowers. Chloe doesn’t even want to deal with it. Nick plasters a frozen smile on his face. This is the challenge he’s been dreading. He can’t believe he has managed to stay in the competition long enough for the “damn make-a-dress-out-of-flowers” challenge. “Oh dear Lord!” Tim gives them $100, one hour to shop, and three shops to choose from.

Daniel heads for Jamali Garden Supplies to buy the construction pieces for his design. Kara is perplexed and doesn’t know what to get. Nick starts looking for blooms that are bendable. Oops, those in his hand aren’t. (No Nick, we didn’t see you put the broken flowers back.) Santino spends $70 at the flower supply store while Chloe decides to stick with using leaves. She doesn’t want to deal with anything really delicate. Andrae worked in a flower shop when he was a kid, so he doesn’t feel like he’s in “the deep end of the swimming pool.” He’s finished his shopping. Santino plays Let’s Make A Deal and scores three plants with his remaining $30. He loves the Plant House! Daniel only has $60 left and learns that flowers are expensive. Yep, he’ll take the purply-blue ones. Kara still doesn’t have any idea of what she will make, but what the heck, she’s gonna grab some flowers, too. Meanwhile, Chloe runs to grab some ribbon with her last bit of change. She’s done and time’s up.

Once the designers return to the workroom Chloe shares that she bought bushels of small, variegated leaves. She’s going create a cascaded print. Daniel puts his name on his winning design from last week and shares that even though he’s young it’s obvious the judges like his work. He admits his biggest weakness as a designer is with industry experience. Chloe says he’s good at everything. Non, non, mon amie, he isn’t good at basketball.

Tim gathers the designers for an announcement. This week’s challenge winner will receive immunity on the next challenge. Andrae really wants to win this one because it would assure him a place in the final four. After that (as the great Duke Nukem used to say) it will be up to God to sort it out. The designers have until midnight to complete their garments. With a “carry on,” Tim leaves the workroom.

Santino wants to win this challenge so he can do something really offensive on the next one without being penalized. Kara knows she can no longer play it safe and plans to pull out all the stops. “It’s do or die.” Chloe is placing her leaves to make a cool textural print for a summer dress, while Kara braids the raffia she’d rather smoke. She still doesn’t know what she’s going to create with her pile of greens. Santino’s outfit will be made with ferns and ficus leaves. He wants to create a sexy, sophisticated dress complete with a dash of whimsy. Daniel’s skirt will be made up of ferns, with flower blossoms on the bodice. Andrae is creating a French garden topiary dress out of Spanish moss, baby’s breath, and lavender, which will be reminiscent of the late 1950s. Nick wants his design to have a fitted bodice, a bustier, with a fuller skirt.

Tim enters the workroom to check on the designers. Chloe’s glued some leaves to fabric and she’s sure they will hold. Tim shakes the fabric and a leaf hits the dust. (Why do I think Survivor: Exile Island’s Cirie would be less than comfortable in this atmosphere?) Chloe promises to “glue that baby like there’s no tomorrow.” Tim moves on to chat with Kara who simply has her raffia braids tacked to the bust line of her form. Her garment is going to happen organically. (I bet that soothes Tim’s fears.) He needs her to resolve her issues ASAP. Tim is amazed by Daniel’s stash of ferns as well as his flower supply. Daniel explains how he will have basket weave on the corset of his design. It shouldn’t take long. Nick is using his stems to attach the shoulder leaves to the bust. His $100 didn’t get him very far so he’s using whatever he has. (To be fair, in my humble opinion, the designers were not given nearly enough money to do this project justice.) The length of his design may end up being a micro-mini due to lack of material.