I use a tool from Orvis Fly Fishing stores. You pin it on your shirt (chest-high) and it has 2 curly extension wires that you can pull out from each side of the bottom of the tool. I attach small scissors for cutting threads on one side and my seam ripper on the other side. The wires are long enough that I can use either at a perfect distance to my fabric.
I also use brightly colored plastic toy boxes from Target stores to hold my stash. They are on rollers and have 3 deep drawers.