Markers I Love.... Aha! Moment Tip #10

My sister, Linda, gave me the idea for this post.  Thank you, Linda!  She has been a huge part of my blog, faithfully commenting on every single post, usually making fun of my vacationing brain, or the fact that I'm older than she, but most often being so positive.  Between her and my daughter, Dayna, they have nurtured my feelings of worth as I send my thoughts and pictures out into the hinterland of cyberspace.  Just as Linda is my self-appointed #1 comment-maker, Dayna is my #1 cheerleader for comment numbers, and new comment-makers!  They both make my heart swell a little bit each time they send me their love in this way.

But this post is about MARKERS!  I can muse about encouragement another time!  Back on track, Sandra. . .

A few people commented about the handwriting on "Tribute to Flowering Dogwood".  How it flowed and how it was balanced.  Here's my secret:
1.  I've always, since day #1, handwritten with FMQ, particulary my name.  Handwriting is natural, so transfers quite easily to quilting, and I love the flow feeling.  So practise handwriting, especially if you are new to FMQ.

2. I use this marker, usually the purple end, to write on the border first before I quilt it.  This way I can see how much space it will take up and adjust accordingly.  I use it as a placement guide, not stressing about hitting the letters exactly, just ball-parking it.  It helps get the muscle-memory in my body if I actually write on the quilt first.  It has a pretty fine tip.  Best of all, it disappears when I'm done!  The blue end is just as good, and sometimes better, for those times when you do NOT want your ink to disappear in ten minutes.  You just spritz it with water.  I keep a Kleenex handy to soak up any extra water droplets.