Did you know that copper wind chimes need to be tuned?

A copper wind chimes is designed to be played by the wind, and consists of tubes or rods, which when affected by the wind come in contact with a suspended central clapper, or each other, to produce melodious notes.

The type of notes they produce all depend on which part of the tube or rod comes in contact with the clapper. Good-quality wind chimes have the center ball hung in such a way that it is the center of each tube or rod that comes in contact with it, sounding the most pure notes.

Frequency is determined by the length, width, thickness, and material of which the rods are made. These rods and tubes are made to specific formulas that help predict the proper length to achieve a particular note, but a bit of fine tuning is often needed to ensre the best sound.
A. Our wind chimes are constructed from a combination of materials – copper, brass, and wood. More specifically, the rods are made from solid brass, the chime tubes from copper, and the clappers from wood.

When you purchase a copper wind chimes from UpsideLiving.com, you will receive a wind chimes that has been professionally tuned following the production process.

Wind chimes were originally used on the corners of temples, thousands of years ago, to frighten away evil spirits and to frighten away birds. They can still be used in that way, of course. But more often than not you’ll find pleasure in these beautiful windchimes, with their delightful designs and their pleasant notes.

I hesitate to say that no one needs copper weathervanes anymore. Sailors needed to know the way the weather was blowing when they wanted to take their sail-driven ships out on the water, but those days are long past. Airports have windsocks, of course, to warn pilots of windshear, and various baseball parks have windsocks or weathervanes as well, so that the batters know where to hit the ball so they can get a homerun!

But these days, copper weathervanes
are used for decorative purposes only, and there’s a wide variety of decorative weathervanes to choose from.

For myself, I prefer the “action-oriented” weathervanes – those featuring an airplane or a ship,or even a lighthouse. But roosters are very popular, as are butterflies and dragonflies. The whimsical will also like weathervanes topped with a golfer in full swing, or a moose in the middle of ambling down a highway, an angel or a flag.

However, copper weathervanes are not just for outdoor use. UpsideLiving also offers indoor weathervanes, of appropriate size, that sit on one’s desk.

The weathervanes come in two finishes. The gleaming, brand-new copper finish is my favorite, but lots of people favor the green patina that comes with age. Those weathervanes are aged by a special process to give them that look.

Ever wonder what the world’s largest weather vane is? Why, it’s a DC-3 – a real DC-3, with thousands of hours in the air before it was retired, mounted on a stand near an airport in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. The plane is mounted on pivots so that it can easily turn with only 5 knots of wind – and it always points into the wind, “as if it would love to take flight again.”

Copper is a beautiful, versatile metal. And of course one of its uses is for copper oil lamps for outdoor use.

These copper oil lamps, which burn oil using fiberglass wicks, come in Blue Verde, Smooth Copper, or Beaten Copper finishes.

People have been using copper for 10,000 years, and copper smelting seems to have developed independently in several places around the world. And, of course, it was the mixing of copper with zinc to make brass, and copper with tin to make bronze, which led to the “Bronze age.”

But let’s talk about copper oil lamps. Copper lamps — depending on their size — can burn from 8 hours to 12 hours, even up to 48 hours.

They make a perfect accent piece for porches and decks, therefore, when you’re entertaining and want a little style to light up the evening!

It’s all about mood lighting. Forget about those bush-league lava lamps! Copper oil lamps provide a taste of style and luxury that everyone can appreciate. The gleam of copper is beautiful on its own, but beaten copper, or Blue Verde copper lamps have their place as well in the elegant home.

Elegant your home may be…the dining room in particular. But there’s nothing quite like cocktails by moonlight on an open-air porch, with the strategic lights from Copper copper oil lamps enhancing the moonlight and the ambiance.

There’s nothing quite as pleasant as sitting on a deck, gazing out at a large and pleasant garden, accompanied by the friendly crackle of fire, well controlled and safe in a sturdy, thick copper fire pit.

Evenings are a particularly lovely time for friends to gather around a fire pit, as the golden flames are set off nicely in the gatherng darkness. Both charcoal or wood can be burned in the pits, each offering their own delightful aromas.

And because the copper fire pits have a firescreen (sold separately), they are perfectly safe.

Copper fire pits are ideal for gatherings of friends, and even better for romantic evenings for two. Just imagine the flicker of flames and the crackle and pop as you sip your drinks and nibble on appetizers. And on cool nights, they provide a welcome source of warmth, but not enough warmth that you won’t have an excuse to cuddle together with your significant other.

For a little extra ambience, consider adding a Tiki torch or two to the mix. Also made of copper, these torches reflect sunlight or moonlight, and add the perfect touch to your sybaritic getaway from the cares of the day.

Copper fire pits and tiki torches don’t just look good when they’re in use, of course. Copper, with its classic red-gold color looks good at any time… even if you don’t use these items for their intended purpose they make great conversation pieces and accent pieces just as they are.

Winterscapes can be pretty, with drifts of pure white snow glistening in the sunlight. Springscapes, with grass and trees just returning to life, give promise of life and a new future. Fallscapes of course can be beautiful, with the georgeous color explosions in the trees. But summer…ah, summer…that’s when the garden lover really comes alive. To enjoy your garden to its fullest, don’t forget the Summer Garden Decor.

You’ve planned out your garden in advance, and planted all of the flowers and plants that you desire. But are you able to sit in your garden and enjoy the sight of all those lovely growing things? While it’s quite enjoyable to view flowers from the kitchen window while you’re washing dishes, or from the living room while you’re watching TV, it’s even better to actually sit in your garden, literally surrounded by the living things.

Relax in your garden in the evening, with flickering tiki torches to illuminate your living gallery of art. Watch the flames – safely contained, of course! – flicker off ceramic flower pots imported from Italy – so easy to shift flower pots from spot to spot to change the look of your garden every day!

An outdoor firepit also makes a spectacular accent, with the gentle tinkle of windchimes suffusing your senses as you wait for your food to grill. Eat your food and contemplate the whichness of the why in total peace.

To plan your garden, you perhaps drew a plan on quad paper, and inked in where you would place each type of flower, each type of plant. Don’t forget to plan the accents as well…the types of chairs to sit, the tables, the methods taken to deter those voracious mosquitoes…with the proper Winterscapes can be pretty, with drifts of pure white snow glistening in the sunlight. Springscapes, with grass and trees just returning to life, give promise of life and a new future. Fallscapes of course can be beautiful, with the georgeous color explosions in the trees. But summer…ah, summer…that’s when the garden lover really comes alive. To enjoy your garden to its fullest, don’t forget the Summer Garden Decor.
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You’ve planned out your garden in advance, and planted all of the flowers and plants that you desire. But are you able to sit in your garden and enjoy the sight of all those lovely growing things? While it’s quite enjoyable to view flowers from the kitchen window while you’re washing dishes, or from the living room while you’re watching TV, it’s even better to actually sit in your garden, literally surrounded by the living things.

Relax in your garden in the evening, with flickering tiki torches to illuminate your living gallery of art. Watch the flames – safely contained, of course! – flicker off ceramic flower pots imported from Italy – so easy to shift flower pots from spot to spot to change the look of your garden every day!

An outdoor firepit also makes a spectacular accent, with the gentle tinkle of windchimes suffusing your senses as you wait for your food to grill. Eat your food and contemplate the whichness of the why in total peace.

Fire pits fit into just about every outdoor setting. They can be used in rural areas as a way for couples to get together and relax, in suburban backyards as they are safer than bonfires and easier to maintain or in cities, as a way to remind urban dwellers of their rural roots. Settling besides a fire pit, sipping wine or beer and passing the time with friends, family or loved ones is quickly becoming a past time for many people, even if they do not have large recreational areas attached to their houses.

You do not have to have a staging area to enjoy an outdoor fire pit, but having a designated area that meets safety standards is one way of not only ensuring your fire pit does not create a hazard, but also adds character to your backyard living space. Done correctly, an outdoor fire pit can serve as an extension of your living room and gives the aura of an area designated for socializing as well as adding aesthetic value on your deck, in your yard or in the garden.

Outdoor fire pits come in all types of shapes, sizes and with different amenities to increase comfort and safety. Shapes typically resemble the charcoal pit of your average outdoor grill, and usually are copper or some other flame resistant material. They range in size from small to large and many have safety amenities such as a retractable mesh spark screen.

The area that you set up for your fire pit, should have some sort of fire resistant base, such as a slab of concrete, embedded stones or a ground area free of grass. Additionally, your area should be free of low hanging branches from trees, any shrubbery or other fire hazards as they do occasionally give off sparks.

The purpose of a well made fire pit is to add warmth, character and an area to relax. Keep that in mind when you choosing the ideal fire pit for your outdoor space. Make sure that your supply of wood is close at hand and do not make it too far from your house. Above all, select something that will add beauty to your backyard and give you a place to enjoy family and friends.

Much more defined than the traditional American garden and used for a much less utilitarian reason, English gardens can provide an oasis of calm in an otherwise hectic daily life, and is the perfect type of fine garden to match your upside living style. Usually placed in a corner of a property and ranging in size from a few feet to acres, depending on the size of your property, English gardens can provide areas of quiet, solitude and respite, all the while serenading the sense in aesthetic beauty. Flowers, vines and shrubbery are staples of a standard English garden, but the sky is the limit as to what you include in yours.

Many people like to include urns and statuary to hold plants and flowers and some even like to include arbors and weathervanes into their English landscape layout. Another trademark of a traditional English garden is the flowers that are used. You can grow any type of flower you want, but traditional English gardens typically include roses, primroses, pansies, poppies, lavender, bluebells, ivy, bachelor’s buttons, lily of the valley and hollyhocks.

Molded shrubbery, called topiaries are also popular. These are shrubs that have been pruned and sculpted into a particular shape. If you are lacking inspiration as to what types of shapes you want your shrubs molded to, do a search online and look at the topiaries in some famous English gardens such as the gardens at Levens Hall, Stourhead and Sissinghurst Castle.

When designing your Al Fresco dining area, make sure you include your own personality for your environment and selection of accents. If you are going for a seaside atmosphere, you might want to consider adding a unique copper weathervane for your yard or garden.

For your dining table, be whimsical and fanciful! There is no need to be as conservative as you would be with your indoor dining table settings. Consider using authentic ceramic Italian dinnerware to bring your al fresco table to life, Italian style! Another great idea is to add some hand painted glasses, available for all seasons and special occasions.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, the definition of Al Fresco is “in the fresh air; outdoors”. Celebrating the warmer weather by dining al fresco, either with your own family or entertaining special friends, will be the best gift you can give to yourself. Enjoy! You can find all of your Al Fresco style living needs at Upside Living.com.

When you plan your pond you have many different options. There are even plastic molds that can create the entire water flow and repository. These can be purchased online at several different web sites.

You waterfall(s) should be an appropriate height to allow for beauty, and a healthy flow, but not so much so that it makes it hard to hear conversation and it should not be so high as to splash its surroundings. There are several commercial pumps that are available to keep the water flowing. Make sure that any pump has an easy to access filter to allow you to quickly clean it when it becomes clogged.

The greenery you chose to surround your pond and waterfall should be smaller, leafier, but not so much as to overwhelm the water areas or obscure them from view. It is generally a good idea to avoid vines, flowers or shrubs that will grow to a height of over two and a half feet. You also should choose a stone base to lay into the bed of the pond. This not only will help fight algae but also will allow for the maintenance of the water quality.

Your pond and waterfall can provide you with a unique outdoor setting that both subdues background noise and provides an area to relax. The sound of water running is both soothing and somewhat mesmerizing. If you elect to go this route, careful planning and care can provide you with an oasis in which you can relax and block out the surrounding world.

The space you use to relax should be set up in a way that allows you to enjoy natural beauty, solitude and be able to communicate with friends and family without interference from outside noise or ambient din. It also should be easy to access and aesthetically beautiful. One way to ensure all of the above is to construct a series of ponds and waterfalls.

How you design your pond and waterfall will be determined by how much effort you want to expend, the natural lay of your back, side or front yard, the type of foundation you will be using and how much water you want to utilize. Size and depth of the pond will determine the proper amount of water you will have to use as will the height of your waterfall. Another consideration is what type of plant life you want to surround your ecosystem with and what types of rocks, logs, mulch and dirt you want to disperse through the fixture.

Additionally, you will want to give your set up a sense of décor by using urns for plants, statues, weathervanes and an outdoor fire pit. Most importantly, you will want to design your system with a space that allows for comfortable seating of up to six people. Access to the indoors should be quick and easy and you should also make sure to keep the water in your pond draining at a fast enough speed to avoid creating a haven for algae and mosquito larva.