"so the dogs can't misplace things on me" - LOL!!! I have a cat who has a preference for my makeup brush, it relocates often!
As for the answer to the question, my machine doesn't sit flush on its table, and there is a raised "table" of sorts that meets up to the machine for quilting purposes. This little table is always there, so my necessities sit underneath it quite handy. The table is clear plastic, so I can see what Ineed. I have a 6" frying skillit that I use to corral the smaller pieces, like seam ripper, screwdriver, smaller scissors, chalk, etc. Works nicely.