I bought a lightweight Brother SM at Wal-mart, (sews like a dream) bought a multi-layered plastic fishing tackle box for all my scissors, needles, threads, etc, put a square as large as you can find space of cutting mat, if you don't have a lot of room for ironing board and iron, get one of those flip-flop cutting mats/ironing surface boards, and a little sewing iron, and you're set! I always take some blocks I want to work on, or some hand-quilting or some quilted embroidery blocks I am working on!! I don't like to ever be caught without "fun stuff" to do....even if I don't get to it....It's there! Comforting. Aren't we all alike???