i don't know the author you're speaking of but my experience with ugly fabric has completely changed my outlook on fabric.
i had this awful pink fabric that i just hated (don't ask how it got in my stash). i decided to use it while working out a design to get the kinks out of the process.
needless to say, i used the ugly pink fabric in small square/sections about 1.5 inches and i totally feel in love with the fabric.
i actually ended up ordering 5 more yards of it, i loved it that much.
so the moral of the story.... even the ugliest duckling can be a swan.