I did not rewatch the shows that Lotti listed, but the term "snippets" comes to mind. There was a lady teaching a Snippets class in Houston one year, and I think she was on a TQS episode. I believe the reason she used tweezers to place the snippets onto the fabric, was that it had a bonding agent on one side, like Light Steam-A-Seam 2 and so could just be ironed on, once the design was to your liking. I hope you eventually find the technique you are looking for! Good luck!
Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana