I only have things that I am currently using to the right of my machine which would be a pin cushion with pins and needles, small scissor for clipping thread, a small ruler to measure seams, thread. I have a waste basket on the floor for clippings. Anything else I have stored elsewhere. My scissors I have on a long piece of ribbon so I can hook them on the extra spindle of the machine so that if they fall off the table they won't hit the floor and ruin the point on the scissors. The ribbon is long enough so I can use the scissors at the machine but shorter than the distance of the table to the floor. If I want to use the scissors when I'm doing hand work they go around my neck so I don't lose them in the couch cushions. My family also knows that if they see a pair of scissors with any ribbon on them to leave them alone. If I didn't do this they would be used to cut things other than fabric. I have ribbon on all my scissors but shorter pieces on the large scissors I use to cut out patterns etc.