Thanks everyone for your input. I went to the Show yesterday, but there was not a pair of duckbills around.
I bought a pair of small very fine curved scissors, a very small pair of "applique' scissors - not the duckbill ones I was looking for, and which cost $59.95 - but these have a circular tip on each blade, and are only about 4" long. Have yet to use them, but at $5, if they don't work out, it's no big loss - which the duckbill ones would have been. Actually I think they may be better - not so awkward for small pieces.
Will let you know how they go.