I wonder if you are talking about what is called picture piecing?I think it is a method by Cynthia England. Check here website here
http://www.englanddesign.com/index.htm
If you go to free patterns, and go all the way down, there is a Getting Started button on how to well to get started with that. I saw her at the International Quilt Festival demonstrating her method, and bought one of her patterns, have not got around to doing it, it has like million little pieces, but looks like a fun method. I am not sure that is what you are talking about, but sure sounds like it to me.