Who we are
Our website address is: https://www.bronwynthebravedesigns.com. The site is owned and operated by Bronwyn Hahn DBA Bronwyn the Brave Designs.
Cookies
Cookies are used by the third-party service providers I rely on. Cookies are the little strings of information that are stored on your computer in order to make those services run smoothly, to track how you use the site, and to make the experience more pleasant for you. Have you ever placed something in your shopping cart and then gotten distracted before you had a chance to make the purchase? Well, it’s a cookie that lets the shop remember that item when you come back. You can change how cookies are handled by adjusting your browser settings. Please keep in mind, however, that blocking some or all cookies may have a negative impact on the usability of some of the features of my website. To learn more about the cookies used on this site and how to control them, please read the cookie statement for Automattic.
What personal data we collect and why we collect it
Comments
When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection.
An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment.
Media
If you upload images to the website, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS) included. Visitors to the website can download and extract any location data from images on the website.
Cookies
If you leave a comment on our site you may opt in to saving your name, email address, and website in cookies. These are for your convenience so that you do not have to fill in your details again when you leave another comment. These cookies will last for one year.
Embedded content from other websites
Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.
These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.
Analytics
I don’t get too obsessed with site analytics like other people do. Basically, I’m happy if anyone checks out my stuff. I do have a plugin called Jetpack (privacy policy) installed on my site that provides basic analytics. Additional stats are provided through WordPress. Occasionally, I like to see how many people view my website and which pages are getting the attention. I can’t see exactly who is visiting my site or clicking links, but site stats allow me to see the URLs that refer you to my site.
Who we share your data with
Despite having multiple superpowers, I can’t do everything myself and must rely on third-party services to run my business. These third-party providers will only collect, use, and disclose your information to the extent necessary to allow them to provide their relevant services. Each has its own privacy policy which I have linked below.
Website
This website is built on WordPress.org (privacy policy) and hosted by Hostgator (privacy policy). Basic analytics are provided by Jetpack, and spam filters, by Akismet—both are divisions of Automattic (privacy policy).
Mailing list
Even if you and I have a business relationship (e.g., you’ve purchased a pattern or I’ve tech edited one of your patterns), I do not automatically add you to my newsletter list. I don’t send out newsletters very often, but when I do, MailChimp is the service that whooshes them to your email. Information that you provide when you sign up for my email newsletter is collected, stored, and shared with me by MailChimp (privacy policy). I ask you for your first and last name as well as your Ravelry name because it’s nice to be able to associate you with your online identity. Only your email address and first name are required, however, because I totally get it if you’re not comfortable sharing the rest. MailChimp also collects IP addresses and other data related to your location, language, etc., which I am able to access but don’t really use. MailChimp does show me whether you have opened an email from me and if you clicked on any links within that email. If you decide that you don’t want to hear from me anymore, you can unsubscribe at any time and your contact information will be deleted. No hard feelings. (I’ll always welcome you back with open arms, though.)
Pattern sales
I sell my patterns online through Ravelry (privacy policy), Payhip (privacy policy), and LoveCrafts (privacy policy). These services collect and store your name and email address (and Ravelry ID on that site) when you purchase one of my patterns. I have access to that information. If you purchase through Ravelry, I receive a copy of the download email that is sent to you. I also receive an email from PayPal (see below) for purchases made through these pattern sites.
Payments and transactions
All pattern payments are processed through PayPal (privacy policy). For each transaction, I receive an email from PayPal that may include your email address, full name, and shipping address (even though it’s a digital product) that you’ve provided to PayPal. This information may also be included in monthly or annual reports that I download from PayPal and store on my personal computer and/or in OneDrive cloud storage in order to do my bookkeeping for income taxes. Payments for tech editing and related services are processed through PayPal or Wave, my accounting program (privacy policy). No credit card or bank account numbers are ever made available to me.
Contact form and direct email
When you get in touch with me via the contact form on this website, you are required to provide your name and email address so that I can reply to you. Messages are then forwarded to my Gmail accounts (privacy policy). In many cases, I do retain these emails within my own email provider so that I have a record of our discussion in case I need to revisit an issue. This is especially true for direct messages sent back and forth during tech editing since patterns may need to be reviewed if errata are found after pattern testing and publication. These emails are never shared, and your details remain private. The exception to this is in the case of testimonials where you have given express consent for me to share the nice things you say about me.
How long we retain your data
If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely. This is so we can recognize and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue.
If you subscribe to my mailing list, your information is retained until you unsubscribe. If you unsubscribe, your information will be permanently deleted.
If you purchase a pattern or tech editing service, that transaction data may be retained indefinitely in order for me to keep financial records necessary for income tax preparation.
What rights you have over your data
If you have left comments on this site, you can request to receive an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us. You can also request that we erase any personal data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are obligated to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
Where we send your data
We collect information about visitors who comment on Sites that use our Akismet anti-spam service. The information we collect depends on how the User sets up Akismet for the Site, but typically includes the commenter’s IP address, user agent, referrer, and Site URL (along with other information directly provided by the commenter such as their name, username, email address, and the comment itself).
Really Simple SSL and Really Simple SSL add-ons do not process any personal identifiable information, so the GDPR does not apply to these plugins or usage of these plugins on your website. You can find the privacy policy here.
Additional information
How we protect your data
We strive to use only reputable services for all business activities. We use antivirus protection to prevent malicious attacks. We also stick to the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you’d have done to you. I don’t want my data shared willy-nilly, so I am just as careful with yours.
What data breach procedures we have in place
In the case of a data breach, you will be notified as soon as possible. You may be notified by me directly and/or by the service that has experienced the breach.
Privacy Policy changes
This Privacy Policy may change from time to time without notice and at the sole discretion of Bronwyn Hahn DBA Bronwyn the Brave Designs. While major changes are unlikely, you are encouraged to check this page for any changes that may affect you. Your continued use of this site means that you accept this Privacy Policy.
Contact information
If you have questions regarding this Privacy Policy, you may direct them to Bronwyn Hahn at bronwyn@bronwynthebravedesigns.com.