They're given to community people who made the items, or worked at the game studio that made the game the item is from. i.e. the Telltale people have self-made Max hats: http://www.tf2items.com/item/882065190 (well this guy doesn't work at Telltale anymore)Capitano Segnaposto said:Never heard of Self-Made items.
Also, there's a real life Red Faction Armageddon Maul in the Volition office, made out of real metal. Thing weighs a TON.