NEW YORK — Martha Stewart is asking to go to jail early, citing a need for "finality" and an "intense desire to put this nightmare" behind her.

Stewart notified a judge that she wishes to begin her five-month federal sentence, even though she has the right to remain free pending her appeal.

"I must reclaim my good life," she said during a press conference Wednesday. "I must return to my good works."

Where she will serve time behind bars and when her sentence will begin is up to the judge.

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She said she hoped to serve her sentence in Danbury (Conn.) Correctional Facility so that her family, including her mother, who turns 90 on Thursday, would be able to visit her.

Stewart, who will still pursue her appeal, was sentenced in July to five months behind bars followed by five months' house arrest.

"Recent delays and extensions make it clear that my appeal won't be heard until next year," Stewart told reporters. "I cannot bear any longer the prolonged suffering while my legal team and I await vindication."

Stewart, 63, said she would regret missing the holidays with her family, and added that she would even miss her cats, dogs, chickens and pet canary.

A jury convicted the home style maven in March of conspiracy, obstruction and two counts of lying to investigators for covering up the circumstances surrounding her Dec. 27, 2001, stock trade of biotech company ImClone.

Her well-timed sale came a day before the FDA made public its decision to reject the application for a cancer drug manufactured by ImClone, and just after learning that the company's CEO, Sam Waksal, was dumping $7.5 million worth of his stock. Tried alongside Stewart was her former stockbroker, Peter Bacanovic, who was also convicted and handed a similar sentence.

While the guilty verdicts carried a maximum of 20 years in prison and $1 million in fines, federal sentencing guidelines allowed Judge Miriam Cedarbaum flexibility in meting out the sentence.

Shortly after her sentencing, her appeals lawyer, Walter Delliger, hinted that Stewart may take the step of surrendering herself voluntarily to begin her term.

During an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America," Dellinger said Stewart was contemplating the move for the sake of the company she founded, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Though she resigned as CEO in the wake of the stock scandal, she still holds the position of founding editorial director.

Dellinger said her lawyers believe they have strong grounds to appeal and Stewart wants the appeal to "go ahead vigorously because she wants to clear her name."

Courttv.com's Emanuella Grinberg contributed to this report.