NEW YORK -- A spokesman said Tuesday that Martha Stewart was pleased that a judge ordered an "early date" for her prison sentence.

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Fact Sheet: Martha Stewart

Tuesday morning, a judge lifted the stay on her sentence after Stewart said she wanted to get the five-month sentence over with and get on with her life.

A statement by Stewart's publicist added that Stewart hopes she'll be assigned to the prison in Danbury, Conn., -- the facility closest to her home.

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons could also to send her to a prison in Florida.

A prisons spokesman did not give a timetable for when that decision would be made.

Stewart has been ordered to surrender for prison by Oct. 8.

A five-month term would place Stewart's release in early March.

Stewart said last week that she wanted to put her "nightmare" behind her -- and return to her life and her work. She said she wants to "reclaim" her life, and hopes to be home in time to plant a spring garden.

A Manhattan federal judge had allowed Stewart to stay out of prison while she pursued an appeal -- though lawyers have said she faced an uphill fight.

Stewart's lawyer said he would continue to pursue her appeal, adding that Stewart has a "substantial" chance of winning.

Stewart's sentence for lying about a stock sale was the minimum possible under sentencing guidelines. It calls for her to spend five months in a federal prison.

After her expected release early next year, Stewart would then be put under five months of house arrest.

She would do her house arrest at an estate in Bedford, N.Y.

Stewart took no questions at a news conference last week, but she did post a letter to her fans on her Web site.

Stewart wrote that she wants to move on with her life.

"Unfortunately, there is no way to know exactly how long it will take the Bureau of Prisons to arrange for me to begin serving my sentence, or where I will serve it. I hope there will be room at the minimum security prison in Danbury, Conn., which is nearest to my home and close enough so my 90-year-old mother will be able to visit me -- but I may end up elsewhere. I also hope it will be possible to begin serving my sentence in the next few weeks -- so I will be out of prison as early next March as possible."

Stewart also thanked everyone who has supported her during her legal troubles.

"I cannot express enough gratitude to my family, friends, co-workers and the company's strategic partners, along with all of the countless people who have written me encouraging notes and emails (including an incredible 185,000 to this Web site), and the millions of supporters of our brand who continue to purchase our products, watch our shows, and read our magazines. Your good wishes and support mean the world to me -- and I am eternally grateful for all of it."