my sympathy to you. I know how hard it is to lose a pet. It just tears your heart out. I have 2 cats who like to "sew" with me. I keep my thread spools in a drawer. I bought one of those little wooden chests you find in the unfinished wood section at the craft store. I made a little pin cushion to fit inside and can just flip the lid shut. (My "girls" like pins) and I use an empty container that bathroom wipes come in for my thread snips because it also has a cover. It's all worth the inconvenience.