Creatures For Care Update

Hi everyone! I know that we haven't posted on the blog in a while, so I just wanted to give you an update. We currently have made 83 creatures in total, and 45 of them have found loving, caring homes. We also have a new member of CFC! She may only be in second grade, but she has already cranked out her first creature: an adorable blue fish.

We now have an Instagram account, so please follow us @creatures4care. Thank you so much for looking at our blog! Our goal is to get out into the public so we can donate to bigger places such as hospitals.

Creature Feature

Today, we are featuring the starfish, who recently was born just a few days ago. She enjoys resting on a smooth rock deep down in the ocean with all of her fish friends and other sea-stars. On the warm sunny days, she basks in the sun on rocks more towards the shore.

Interviewer (I): How does it feel to be a creature for care?

Starfish (S): I love it already. It feels nice to know that people really care. That they take time out of their busy days to make an animal for someone else in need. I feel very gifted.

I: Are you nervous to get donated?

S: I'm not that nervous. I'm more excited to see the jubilant face of a little kid as they pick me out of the basket and hold me tight.

I: What kind of home are you looking for?

S: Well, anything really. I just want to be in a home where I'm loved and cared for.

I: Thank you for your time!

S: You're very welcome!

Adeus

Today we are saying adeus, or goodbye, to six of our Creatures for Care. They were donated to an airport that welcomes men and women from the army. They have a table with tons of stuffed animals the soldiers can take for free and bring home to their families, or keep for themselves. We all hope that the creatures go to loving homes with their new soldier friends!

Creature Feature!

Today we are featuring the polar bear, who lives in the North Pole. She frolics around on the ice all day with her cubs and goes for long swims in the frigid ocean. But due to global warming, this polar bear's home is disappearing quickly.

Interviewer (I): What is your favorite characteristic about yourself?

Polar Bear (PB): I like that my fur is so soft and thick, and that I am easy to cuddle. You can wrap your arms around me and you never want to let go.

I: Why do you want to be donated?

PB: I want to be donated because I want to make someone happy. Whenever I make someone happy, it makes me feel happy, and the feeling is generated inside of me for the rest of the day. Being happy is one of life's greatest gifts. I also am very bored with my life right now. I just sit around all day with my friends. Sometimes there's small talk, but most of the time we are silent, waiting to be donated. I wish I could be be hugged by a kid.

I: How long have you been waiting to be donated?

PB: It feels like forever, but it was probably about a year or so. It is sad because lots of times, the girls donate the newer creatures who have been in the bags for a short time, like a couple of months. I wish they would consider how long some of us have been waiting in the bag and take the older stuffed animals instead of the new ones.

I: Which of the CFC are you most attached to?

PB: My best friends so far are the lobster and the puffer fish. The puffer fish was donated to New Generation, but he was always so considerate and put everyone before himself. The lobster sits next to me in our bag. He has a great sense of humor, and can make me laugh any day, especially when the hours seem to drag on.

I: Thank you for your time today. Let's hope that our polar bear friend and all of the older CFC can find a place to be donated soon.

Creature Feature!

Today, we are featuring the bunny, who loves hopping around the woods and visiting his furry animal friends. Once a year, he helps his friend, a bunny you all may know, deliver eggs to the children.

Interviewer (I): What makes you, as an individual,
unique?

Bunny (B): Not a lot of bunnies are purple and blue, like I am. I like having different colored fur instead of being just plain brown or black.

I: Why do you love children?

B: Because they are little bundles of joy. They always have smiles on their faces and are in a good mood.

I: What is your favorite part about being a stuffed animal?

B: My favorite part is being a kid's best friend. Knowing I will always be right there for them and that they will always be right there for me is something more powerful than any force in the world.

I: Thank you for your time today!

B: It was my pleasure! Happy Easter and Passover!

Shalom

Today we are saying shalom to twelve of our critters. They are being donated to New Generation, a place that supports homeless pregnant women and new mothers. The CFC are being put in welcoming baskets for the babies to love and care for the rest of their lives. The animals we donated include: the zebra, the kangaroo, the monster, and the zebra fish. They all had the nervous jitters in their stomaches as they crossed the threshold of their new homes. Wish them the best of luck on their new journeys! 

Here is a picture of us at New Generation with the CFC!

Creature Feature!

Our creature today is the bright red lobster. He hangs out on the ocean floor with his crab and fish friends. He loves to make noise with his big lobster claws.

Interviewer (I): What do you like most about children?

Lobster (L): I like their bright spirit, positive attitude, and how they love to talk to and play with stuffies like me!

I: Is it hard knowing that if you get picked to be donated you might not find a forever home?

L: Well, not really, because I know that even if I don't get picked the first time, there is always a time after that, because the people that created me are always looking for new places to donate.

I: Why is a Creature for Care different than any other stuffed animal?

L: These girls put so much time into making us. We are special because of that. We were made with love.

Creature Feature!

Today we are featuring the monster as our creature. He lives far away from any other animals, all alone. He is very scary looking, but actually, he is quite a nice little fellow.

Interviewer (I): What does it feel like when a child looks at you, and they smile?

Monster (M): It makes me want to smile, too. Seeing a kid so happy and realizing that I'm the cause of that gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside that is hard to describe.

I: What do you think about your life now?

M: It is kind of boring, just sitting in a plastic bag all day, but there are lots of other creatures in there, and sometimes we talk about what our lives will be like when we are donated, or we daydream about what it would feel like to get squeezed in a gigantic hug.

I: What are you most looking forward to when you will get donated?

M: I am most looking forward to meeting my owner. I want to find out what they look like, and who they are, and where I am going to live.

Adios

Today we say goodbye to the squid! He is getting donated to a family that lost their daughter due to leukemia. The squid loves exploring in the ocean on lazy summer afternoons, and playing hide-and-seek with his squid friends.

Interviewer (I): If you could describe how you feel in words about going to your new home, what would say?

Squid (S): I am really excited. I can't wait to see what the home looks like, and I hope everyone is really nice. I'm a little nervous, but I know I will have a good time.

I:  When we brought you to be donated and you didn't get picked, how did you feel?

S: I felt left out and unimportant, but I knew I would have a second chance, and I was very glad for that. All I want is to have a home.

I:  Well I'm sure you are glad to be getting a home. I wish you the best luck. Thank you for your time!

S: I'm glad to be here!

Creature Feature!

Today we are featuring the kangaroo, who lives on the Outback of Australia. She enjoys hopping around all day. From her high vantage points, she has a great view of the city. Our interviewers asked her what it was like to be made.

Interviewer (I): In what specific order were you made?

Kangaroo (K): First my body, then my pouch. Next my head and face, then finally my tail, ears, legs and arms. It felt pretty strange without them, let me just say!

I: Was there ever a point where you got to watch a part of your body being made?

K: I actually witnessed my arms tail, and ears being made. It was kind of cool because my tail was a funny-looking tube until it was sewn on and stuffed.

I: What does it feel like to have something sewn onto you?

K: At first it was a pretty weird sensation, but I eventually got used to it. It sort of feels like there is something stuck in you and you can't get it out. Anyone who's had stitches can relate to this, except it's not as painful, I'm guessing.

I: Thanks for joining us today!

Au Revoir

Say Au Revoir to the Valentine teddy bear and the Turtle, because today they are going to go to their forever homes. They are being donated to two children who lost their mother due to cancer. We wish them farewell as they embark on their journey. Our interviewers talked to them about how they feel:

Interviewer (I): Are you excited or nervous about this big step you are going to take?

Teddy Bear (TB): I am mostly excited. I have been waiting for this day for a long time, and now that it's finally here, I don't know what to think.

Turtle (T): I have nervous butterflies in my stomach. I am nervous, but I know I will enjoy my new life.

I: How long have you waited for this moment?

TB: Not that long, actually. I was created this month. But it feels like I've been waiting forever. It's every CFC's dream to be donated, and I'm very lucky to have my dream come true.

T: I on the other hand, was made last summer. I have been just waiting for my turn to get a new home, so I think this is long overdue.

I: I hope you have a good time with your new owners!

T and TB: We do too!

Creature Feature!

Today we will be featuring the beaver. He loves swimming in the river on hot summer afternoons and collecting sticks for his dam. His best friend is the red beaver who lives just a short swim away.

Interviewer (I): What is the best part about being a beaver?

Beaver (B): Being so big and cuddly. I also really like my flat dark tail. It makes it easy to swim.

I: What was the happiest day of your life?

B: Well, I have two. The first was when I was finished. It felt amazing to finally have a tail and a face, and be stuffed! The other one was when my best friend got donated. When he got picked out of the bag and had a white ribbon tied around his neck, I was so glad for him. I knew he would be the first to be donated.

I: What emotions will be running through you when you get donated?

B: I will be happy that I finally have a home, sad because I will miss all of my friends, and nervous because I don't want to disappoint my new owner.

I: I'm sure you won't disappoint your owner.

B: I hope not.

I: Thanks for your time!

B: You're welcome!

Creature Feature!

Every once and a while we will be highlighting one of our animals and posting about it. This time we are featuring a black-and-white fish we call a Zebra Fish. He was one of the first creatures we made this year. He has very big blue eyes and puckered lips. He is crocheted. He likes happy children and swimming in the coral reef. His favorite pass-time is playing tag with his other fish friends. Made with love, this Zebra Fish is waiting for a place to call home. Here is our interview with the Zebra Fish:

Interviewer (I): What kind of home are you looking for?

Zebra Fish (ZF): I'm just hoping for a place with a kid that will sleep with me every night and love me always.

I: What makes being a Creature for Care different than any other stuffed animal?

ZF: Being a Creature for Care means that you are making a child happy, and adding joy to their life. 

I: What are you most looking forward to?

ZF: I am looking forward to being donated, and meeting my owner.

I: Thank you for your time!

ZF: It was my pleasure!

Welcome to our blog!

Hi! We are Creatures for Care (or CFC). Welcome to our blog! 2014 is the third year we have done our organization. In 2012, we created 22 creatures. The past year, 2013, we made 30 creatures and donated 16. So far for 2014, we've made 2 creatures; a fish and a jellyfish. All in all, we've made 54 animals. Our goal for 2014 is to make 100 total creatures.

The most fun part about CFC is donating the creatures. We donate them to a homeless shelter around once a month. We can all agree that it is rewarding to see the smiles on the children's faces as they take a toy out of the basket. When we donate, it also inspires us to create more animals, which, sometimes we really need, as working can often drag on. Since we love it so much, we are always looking for new places to donate our animals.

There are 2 ways we make our creatures; knitting and crocheting (kro-shay-ing). Most people think knitting and crocheting are similar, and they're right, but there are a few differences. For starters, knitting is created with two pointed needles, and crocheting is created with a hook that has a curved end. Knitting is stretchy no matter which way you pull it, whereas crocheting only stretches in one direction. Knitting takes longer than crocheting. In our group, 2 girls knit and 2 crochet, so we have about an even number of knitted and crocheted animals.

This year, we are trying to make our animals more colorful. We were lining them up the other day, and we noticed that we used dark colors to create them. We're trying to make striped animals, or just use a bright color, so they're more vibrant.

Thank you for reading our blog!

The members of Creatures for Care