Doodling a Name Block for a quilt back

Today I made a 12" quilt block that will find it's way into a quilt that is being made for a colleague that I used to work with on a volunteer board of directors. I was given one small piece of fabric to use in the quilt and then I was to add other fabric and make any block I wanted. That was easy and it's done.

I've also been asked to make a 6.5" white, cream, or light NAME block that will be part of the back of this quilt. These quilt blocks along with the name blocks will come from all over Canada. I don't know how these will be stitched into the back of the quilt, but it certainly has peaked my interest.

So today, I started thinking more about the Name block than the 12" block. I've never made a name block. Sounds easy, but I thought I'd take the opportunity to use this neat little book that I've had for years. It's a doodle book called the Kids Book of creative Lettering . It's harder than it looks, for me anyway. I think the trick is practice.

I dig out my 48-pack of Zig markers, ironed a piece of light fabric to freezer paper, measure a 5" square on the fabric with disappearing marker, take a deep breath and then put zig marker to fabric. I use some illustrations and techniques that I find in the book. I'm ok with the little frame that I created and if you stand back 2 or 3 feet, it looks pretty cute, except for the printing of my name. I gave it a quick press, and it looked ok. Just ok. To get rid of the disappearing marker, I rinsed it under the tap, and gave it another press to dry it out. I noticed that some of the ink bled a bit. oh no. I thought Zig markers were colorfast. But it was a good excuse to do another since I wasn't really really happy with it.
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Maybe a different fabric and a good hot heat set before rinsing it. So I prepared another piece of plain white cotton fabric and drew the frame. I did the name with the thick end of the Zig marker and it was too thick. I'm not happy with this name block either. I did give it a hot hot iron for a good 30 seconds and let it cool, then rinsed it to remove the disappearing marks. It did bleed a bit but not bad.
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I think in the morning, when fresher (ha ha) I'll try again a third time.
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One of the three will have to do. It along with the 12" block is going in the mail tomorrow.

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Also, it's Crazy Quilting Monday today, but my CQ spiders are not done yet. I will expect they'll be done this evening while watching Dancing with the Stars. I'll post about them tomorrow.