The other day I discovered 3 exceptional gift stores, all within walking distance of each other in the 18th arrondissement, near the Métro Abbesses. The neighborhood is artsy, but "downscale" enough so that you can still find some bargains and best buys.

If you like angels, you'll love the small intimate gift shop, La Boutique des Anges, at 2 rue Yvonne Le Tac, open Monday to Saturday 10:15 to 6:45 and Sunday 1:30 to 6. There are angels on everything from picture frames to lamp shades, and cards. Plus scads of angel figurines, of course. You can really fulfill your fantasies from the silly to the serious (there are a few replicas of sculptures as well). The prices ranged from low to moderate, so this is a great store to pick up a unique gift, even if you're on a budget.

The next store on my route was Dentelles et Ribambelles at 6 rue des Trois- Frères, open every day from 11 to 7:30. To my amazement, they had beautiful porcelain dolls on display priced from 4 to 16 Euros. Since the Euro is now almost equal to the dollar, you can see how low these prices are. They also had a selection of doll houses and doll house accessories (I loved the tiny French bathtub in the store window), plus other toys such as stuffed animals. The sales woman informed me that the dolls are a limited stock, so after they are sold out, that's it!

The third store on my visit was Belle de Jour at 7 rue Tardieu, open Monday to Saturday 10:30 to 1 and 2 to 7. Here you'll find a wonderful collection of antique perfume bottles and glassware. Just after you enter, you can definitely catch a whiff of perfume in the air, and during my visit, a French woman was at the counter putting her collection of antique glassware on consignment in the store. When you look for the store, go to the middle of the building front since there is another store in the same building using the same number (which is fairly common in Paris).

By Jeanne Feldman, author of the shopping guide: Best Buys and Bargains in Paris