Air layering

I'm hoping to air layer my contorted hazel.... The branches are flexible it's been in our garden for over 30 years.
Anybody tried this species as bonsai?

Where are you? Looks like the hasel doen not have foliage. If it is winter, it is the wrong tome to start a layer.

I tried regular hasel and found it too coarse for small to medium sized bonsai. I coul not get a trunk over 5cm thick, so large tree was not an option