My understanding is "yes" to all of your questions. I know it's not totally "new" and has been out for a few months, but my LQS owner had not heard of it til I read about it in Quilters Newsletter and told her about it. It is marketed as an applique tool, not for paper piecing. And you use it like freezer paper only you leave it in and then wash. No more digging the paper out before closing up the appliqued seam.