diff --git a/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb b/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb
index e77b663..05d199b 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ module CouchRest
 
       # Creates the document in the db. Raises an exception
       # if the document is not created properly.
-      def create!
-        self.class.fail_validate!(self) unless self.create
+      def create!(options = {})
+        self.class.fail_validate!(self) unless self.create(options)
       end
 
       # Trigger the callbacks (before, after, around)
@@ -118,8 +118,8 @@ module CouchRest
         #
         # ==== Returns
         #  returns the reloaded document
-        def create(attributes = {})
-          instance = new(attributes)
+        def create(attributes = {}, &block)
+          instance = new(attributes, &block)
           instance.create
           instance
         end
@@ -128,8 +128,8 @@ module CouchRest
         #
         # ==== Returns
         #  returns the reloaded document or raises an exception
-        def create!(attributes = {})
-          instance = new(attributes)
+        def create!(attributes = {}, &block)
+          instance = new(attributes, &block)
           instance.create!
           instance
         end
diff --git a/spec/couchrest/persistence_spec.rb b/spec/couchrest/persistence_spec.rb
index 86ded62..6e04f30 100644
--- a/spec/couchrest/persistence_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/couchrest/persistence_spec.rb
@@ -81,6 +81,18 @@ describe "Model Persistence" do
       article.should_not be_new
     end 
     
+    it "yields new instance to block before saving (#create)" do
+      article = Article.create{|a| a.title = 'my create init block test'}
+      article.title.should == 'my create init block test'
+      article.should_not be_new
+    end 
+
+    it "yields new instance to block before saving (#create!)" do
+      article = Article.create{|a| a.title = 'my create bang init block test'}
+      article.title.should == 'my create bang init block test'
+      article.should_not be_new
+    end 
+
     it "should trigger the create callbacks" do
       doc = WithCallBacks.create(:name => 'my other test') 
       doc.run_before_create.should be_true