I got one of those magnet things that mechanics use. It is on a long springy type thing. It is hard to explain but it is like D in this picture. I got it at Big Lots or Harbor Freight, don't remember which and it didn't cots a lot of money.
http://www.allmagnetics.com/device/pickuptool.htm I use it in my sewing room to scan for dropped pins, especially under my cutting table and sewing table.
edited to add: Oops, didn't see that you already used a magnet to find it!