I also belong to a group at my lqs...I do some of the bom quilts there, but they are nowhere near $500.00...I couldn't, and actually wouldn't pay that much...just my thing, tho...I also have found a lot of free bom quilt patterns on-line, a lot more than I can ever finish, and a lot of them give color palette suggestions, if someone needs that, too...I like following along on them, actually more so the ones that have already completed...that way I can look at all the steps, the blocks, and the finished product to make sure it is one that will work for me (meaning one that I can actually complete...lol...).
Have a great night all,
Kif