I'd always gotten the impression that they were mass produced that way --- though, obviously you'd give them their own individual flair, given that you're an artisan and not a cog in the industrial machine.

No, I certainly understand that. Admittedly, the prophecies of old in my world had an unfortunate tendency to come true whether you liked it or not... though, I admit, I have to wonder how much of that is simply exaggerated for the sake of a good story.