Moms are the hardest people to buy for. Ask her what she wants and she says "nothing, I just want everyone home." Buy her something nice anyway and it ends up in a drawer, saved for a special occasion that never quite comes.

A clay figurine of her is different. It's a small, true picture of who she is: the robe she lives in on Sunday mornings, the kids hanging off her, the garden she won't stop talking about. Our studio sculpts each one by hand from your photos and paints it to match, down to her glasses and the way she wears her hair. It goes on the shelf where she'll see it every day, and it stays there.

Here are 8 designs moms love, grouped by the kind of mom she is.

For the mom who holds it all together

1. Morning coffee

Pink robe, fuzzy slippers, the first cup of the day in both hands. This is the five quiet minutes before everyone else wakes up, and every mom knows them. Morning Coffee figurine, from $149.

2. Super mom

Cape on, baby bottle raised in one hand, a basket of laundry under the other arm. It's funny because it's true. Super Mom figurine, from $169.

3. Mom with all her kids

She's in the middle, the kids are wrapped around her, and the youngest is on her hip. Up to six people fit on one base, so nobody gets left out. Mom With All Her Kids figurine, from $429.

For the mom with a thing she loves

4. Baking together

Matching aprons, a tray of pink cupcakes, mom and daughter cheek to cheek. For the family where the kitchen is where everything happens. It works just as well for a grown-up daughter and her mom who still bake together every holiday. Send a recent photo of each of you. Baking Together figurine, from $299.

5. Mom with her roses

Sun hat, green apron, watering can in one hand and a bunch of red roses in the other. For the mom who spends every free hour in the garden. Mom With Her Roses figurine, from $169.

6. The loudest mom on the sideline

Team scarf, team colors, a flag in the air. Every kid's team has one, and she's proud of it. The Loudest Mom on the Sideline figurine, from $149.

For the mom with a sense of humor

7. Mom as a hot dog

Yes, really. Arms out, mustard stripe down the front, a big grin. For the mom who wore the costume to the party and never let anyone forget it. Mom as a Hot Dog figurine, from $169.

8. Nurse mom

Scrubs, stethoscope, thumbs up. For the mom who looks after half the town at work and then comes home and looks after you. Nurse Mom figurine, from $149.

Have something else in mind? Her running shoes, her book club, the dog she treats like a fourth child? Send us the idea with your photos and our studio sculpts it. Pets can join any design for $89 each.

How to choose the right one

• Think about a normal day, not a big one. The designs moms keep longest are the ordinary moments: the coffee, the kitchen, the garden. They feel like her.
• One mom or the whole family? A single figure starts from $149. A design with the kids costs more because every person is sculpted and painted by hand.
• Pick the size for the shelf. Classic is 7.1 in (18 cm), Grand 9.1 in (23 cm) and Showpiece 11.8 in (30 cm), measured to the top of the head.
• Add her name. A name or a short line on the base is free. So is a gift note of up to 200 characters.
• Ship it straight to her. Put her address in at checkout. Every mini comes in our gift box, and no prices are printed on anything inside.

If you're shopping for a dad too, our gifts for dad guide has a mini for every hobby. For a partner, see gift ideas for your wife. Turning a big number this year? Our 50th birthday gift ideas cover the milestones.

How it works

1. Send a photo. Pick a design and a size, and add your photos.
2. We sculpt it by hand. Real clay, shaped and painted by hand. No 3D printing.
3. You approve the proof. On Standard and Faster you get free proof photos, and we make changes until you love it. Nothing ships until you say yes.
4. It arrives in a gift box. Tracked to the door, ready to give.

Questions people ask

What photos do you need of her?
A clear photo of her face, looking at the camera, plus a full-body photo so we get her shape and how she stands. Phone photos are fine. If you have one photo of her laughing, send that too.

Can I change the outfit or the props?
Yes. Tell us what she always wears or what she'd be holding, and we work it in. The proof photos let you check it before anything ships.

How long does it take?
On Standard, our studio takes 10 to 14 business days to sculpt and paint it, then it ships. Faster takes 5 to 7 business days for $19 more per mini. US Standard shipping is $14.95, free on orders over $249.

See all designs for mom or start with your own photo and idea.