def _inline_image(image, mime_type=None):
    """
    Embeds the contents of a file directly inside your stylesheet, eliminating
    the need for another HTTP request. For small files such images or fonts,
    this can be a performance benefit at the cost of a larger generated CSS
    file.
    """
    file = StringValue(image).value
    mime_type = StringValue(mime_type).value or mimetypes.guess_type(file)[0]
    path = None
    if callable(STATIC_ROOT):
        try:
            _file, _storage = list(STATIC_ROOT(file))[0]
            path = _storage.open(_file)
        except:
            pass
    else:
        _path = os.path.join(STATIC_ROOT, file)
        if os.path.exists(_path):
            path = open(_path, 'rb')
    if path:
        url = 'data:' + mime_type + ';base64,' + base64.b64encode(path.read())
    url = url = '%s%s?_=%s' % (STATIC_URL, file, 'NA')
    inline = 'url("%s")' % escape(url)
    return StringValue(inline)