If you’ve ever seen the awesome and inspiring bead embroidery of other bead artists, you might have been inspired to try your hand at this particular beading technique. Unlike other types of off-loom beadweaving, bead embroidery is the stitching of seed beads to a fabric or felt-like backing. While the basic stitches used in bead embroidery are relatively simple the results can be spectacular. Bead embroidery allows you to “paint” with your beads on a fabric “canvas” for a look that you just can’t get with other beadweaving techniques. You can also easily incorporate found objects, gemstones, handmade cabochons and other unique jewelry-making components into your bead embroidery projects. While bead embroidery can be used to make spectacular beaded jewelry, it can also be used to add a decorative touch to all sorts of fashion accessories like purses and handbags, clothing and even shoes! Bead embroidery is instantly recognizable in Native American beadwork, and some of the most breathtaking fashions seen on the runway in the twenty-first century have also been decorated with beaded embroidery.