I like the Kona fabric and the Pigma pen #8. I have used the #8 for signatue quilts since a quilt shop owner/designer/author suggested it to me.
Freezer paper works to stablize the fabric, but I have put the blocks out with out it. When you show up to a baby shower and the grandmother to be says Oh I meant to call you.....I had just ironed white muslin, high quality and it was on the ironing board; I called DH and he brought me fabric, pens, ruler, and mat...LOL