Those are fine work. For the bears, I think I would do trees or bear paws (either the pattern or the shape of actual footprints) in the large squares, leave the bears and trees to pop out and meander the rest.
For the blue and yellow, I think some form of feathers and flowers, with the feathers following the diamond shape around the inner appliqued flowers. I'd probably do a fine on the border.
I am unsure about the bright yellow one.