I think I know what you mean, and it's going to bug me until I find it.
I think there was a white background, and then she stitched on top of it raw-edged novelty prints in small squares and rectangles in a sort of random grid. She sewed pretty close to the edge of the pieces, but even so, I can imagine a few threads might have worked loose from the pieces in the wash or over time.
You might try googling confetti quilts...and if I find what I was thinking of, I'll pm you!