I'll try to cover the first part of your questions.

Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus) and Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata) can both be grown from semi-ripe cuttings this time of year. Take a cutting containing 3 leaf nodes with a good firm base (semi-ripe stem). Remove any blooms or side shoots and the leaves from the bottom node. Wound the base of the cutting and immediately apply rooting hormone. Plant in a soilless mix, and keep the mix evenly moist. A summer "cold frame" can be used to ratain some moisture. Of course, this must be placed in shade to keep from cooking the cuttings. Also, make sure there is some ventilation so the plants won't rot.

The Chocolate Vine might be easier to root via layering. Choose a stem that can easily reach the ground and can be removed without damage to the plant's aesthetics. Cut a slit about a third of the way thru the vine from the lower side of the vine where the vine reaches the soil when bent down. Use a coathanger or earthstaple to hold this area against the ground and cover with a thin layer of soil or mulch. The vine will form roots at that slit and when it's established, you can remove the newly rooted stem from the parent plant and plant up on its own.

If you have questions about this or some part of it doesn't make sense, email me.