I recently purchased an rf transmitter and reciever:
and
I've found the virtual wire library, but I want to directly broadcast the data from a sensor (One-Wire Ambient Temperature Sensor - MAX31820 - SEN-14049 - SparkFun Electronics) to my arduino through one of these. I doubt that I could directly connect the serial data out (one wire) connection from the Dallas Semiconductor OneWire sensor to the data pin on the transmitter.
Anyone see a way of doing this or am I going down the wrong path?
You're correct, you won't be able to hook up the OneWire directly.. you'll need a second Arduino. (Or you can buy a bootloaded 168 or 328 and build a breadboard circuit.)
VirtualWire is probably the best way to go though, in terms of distance/garbage reduction. I was able to get on opposite sides of my house, 2 story, with only an antenna on the receiver. (it was actually hooked up to a transformer I have on my Electronics Learning Lab from Radioshack)
But transmitting the data from the OneWire, from arduino to arduino is fairly trivial. 
Thank you for your quick response. 
Is there a more specific IC or circuit that I could use or make to accomplish this task?
Well, to interface it with the Arduino and VirtualWire you're definitely going to need another Arduino, or at least another brand.. picaxe.. propeller.. etc etc, coded with the specifications of VirtualWire.
But if you're looking for simplicity, just buy a bootloaded chip, use the internal oscillator (8mhz), and you'll have to change the board to "Lilypad Arduino" I believe, then you should be okay to just pop it on a breadboard, and be good to go!
(including the code for the OneWire, and the VirtualWire, of course.)
But to receive what's being transmitted.. you need to have a "checksum" set up, so you're not receiving garbage.
http://narobo.com/articles/rfmodules.html
Very good explanation of using the RF modules.
Thanks.
I'm tying to keep the sensor package small, but another micro controller does look like the way I have to go.
The virtual wire RF link isn't really much of a virtual wire if it takes processing on both ends.
I appreciate your help Capt. Obvious.