I have had this happen before with appliques and especially large ones like in you have in your piece. its ADORABLE by the way! the "chill" tab is too cute. It shouldn't be too hard to correct the snow flake. the hat seems fine to me and the snowman would look good in a looser meander w/ white thread. The textures give it more dimension. I don't think the BSR contributed to it at all but next time quilt the appliques first and do the back-ground last working out from the center.