Entry No. 43 — the Columbus file — filed under: perfume-making
Good Dea Craft School
This whimsical Clintonville art studio specializes in beginner-friendly, project-based classes ranging from stained glass to leatherworking and custom scent blending.
The story
You didn't hear it from us, but you don't need a trade apprenticeship or a garage crammed with heavy machinery to work with soldering irons or thick leather in Clintonville. Good Dea Craft School, run by artists Kara Cullenen-O'Dea and Pamela O'Dea, operates on a refreshingly straightforward premise: adult craft classes shouldn't just be about gluing pre-made trinkets together, but about learning actual, repeatable techniques you can build on at home.
Kara spent over a decade perfecting and teaching stained glass through Good Dea Glass Co. before establishing this dedicated studio space on North High Street. The class roster bypasses fluffy DIY trend kits in favor of real tools and raw materials. At 'The Perfume Bar' workshop, you dive into the neuroscience of the limbic system and scent memory before blending a custom botanical fragrance from 25 distinct notes; in glass sessions, you learn glass cutting, grinding, copper foiling, and soldering to build a piece entirely from scratch.
From terrazzo and leatherworking to wood burning, papermaking, and metalforming, the studio demystifies trade skills that usually take years of trial and error to figure out. Everything is packed into focused, hands-on three-hour workshops designed to give you complete ownership over the building process.
What it's like
Expect a bright, clean, exceptionally organized High Street studio where tools and safety gear are lined up neatly at every workstation. The atmosphere is quiet, low-ego, and instructional—teachers guide you step-by-step through the process so you never feel left guessing with a dangerous tool. Most workshops run on weeknight evenings and cap attendance to keep instruction personalized, which means bench space fills up quickly; confirm your class online before heading out.
The move: Attend 'The Perfume Bar' workshop to learn about the limbic system and scent memory, then blend a custom botanical perfume together using 25 distinct fragrance notes.
- 📍 Clintonville
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 4145 N High St, Columbus, OH 43214
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Philosophi Salon — Pair your evening craft workshop with a quiet session in Ohio's tiniest salt room less than a mile down North High Street.
- The Magical Druid — After blending custom scents or soldering glass, head less than two miles south to browse handcrafted herbs and altar supplies at this 5,000-square-foot Druid hub.
- Cora's Curiosities — Keep the offbeat handmade momentum going by checking out strange and unusual oddities selected by local burlesque icon Cora Mandragora.
- Dragonbrush — Spot a quirky neighborhood landmark on your way down High Street by visiting the colorful green dragon guarding a giant toothbrush on a dental lawn.
Good to know
Do I need prior crafting or art experience to take a class?
Not at all. Classes are built specifically for beginners and intermediate makers, with instructors guiding you through every tool, material, and technique.
What kinds of craft workshops are offered?
The studio regularly rotates classes in stained glass, custom scent blending, leatherworking, papermaking, terrazzo, felting, natural dyes, wood burning, mosaics, sewing, and metalforming.
How long do the workshops usually run?
Most structured hands-on sessions run for about three hours, primarily scheduled during weeknight evenings.
Do I need to register in advance?
Yes, workshop seats are limited and must be booked online through their website before you arrive.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · columbusmakesart.com · gooddeaglassco.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-21