When Sarah De Jonge was growing up, her mother sent care packages filled with lovingly-crafted dolls, bags and clothes.
The handmade items arrived from afar, as her mum sought psychiatric care for anorexia away from her young family.
"At that time she couldn't care for her children, she was just too unwell," Ms De Jonge recalls.
"So in my make up, there is something very instinctive around hand-making something with love.
"Giving that to somebody as a symbol of care is really powerful and creates a strong sense of connection."
Ms De Jonge grew up "marinated in creativity", raised by her father - who was always painting or sculpting in his studio - and her musical stepmother.
Those formative years in Tasmania rose to the surface decades later, when Ms De Jonge turned to craft for comfort during a period of heartbreak.
She began by hand sewing small felt hearts, with an aim of making 1000 to give to people in random acts of kindness.
Volunteers offered to distribute the hearts, creating a network bound by care.
It only took two years for her project to go global as communities of creators - or "heartists" - made and shared hearts with people affected by the Grenfell Tower fire in London, a US nightclub shooting and the Ukraine war.
"The intention was always to send them where people are really needing kindness," Ms De Jonge said.
"If we hear about something ... we mobilise the troops and send the hearts out."
Her organisation 1000 Hearts is now a full-time job.
Ms De Jonge's work has earned her the Tasmanian AgriFutures Rural Women's Award, which recognises the contribution of women living outside the cities.
A decade after making the first hearts, Ms De Jonge continues to be moved by the depth of the keepsakes.
One woman and her daughter have matching hearts to help the girl deal with separation anxiety.
They sleep with the hearts under their pillows to "charge" them overnight and keep them close throughout the day.
Parents of premature babies leave hearts with their infants in hospital and carry their own, then swap them to foster a bond.
Families of terminally ill people use them in a similar way, eventually burying their loved one with a heart.
Ms De Jonge hopes the award will help her create workshops focusing on the psychological benefits of kindness.
She also wants to expand the craft circles.
"Taking time to sit and read a book, or sit and sew, or sit and paint or draw, or whatever lights you up, brings connection to nature and community.
"We're almost being discouraged from those things in the way that society functions, so it's important we take it back."
Other state recipients of the Rural Women's Award include SA's Kelly Johnson, who reduces food waste by turning second-grade produce into meals, and Isabella Thrupp, the founder of a WA women's workwear brand.
The national winner will be announced at a ceremony in Canberra in September.
