I have picked up a dozen or so of these in my travels and wonder what they are used for. Do you create armor and/or weapons from them or do they alter the appearance (cosmetic) of items?
For reference of what different motif style look like, check out ESO-fashion.com.
Motif chapters can also be a great source of income for new players. Some are worth quite a bit - for example, right now dragur or Minotaur chapters go for $50k+ in guild stores. Prices depend on how new the motifs are, rarity, desirability, etc. But if you're looking to make some money to get you started, you can try motif chapter farming:
1. Do a little research on motif prices in the stores in capital,cities
2. Look up where/how those chapters drop
3. Join a trade guild that keeps a weekly trader
4. Earn the motifs and sell.